LSM Newswire

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Measha Brueggergosman, Elena Bashkirova and Yannick Nezet-Seguin on Art & Fine Living with Jona in April and May, 2008

Celebrated Canadian Soprano, Measha Brueggergosman, who is currently performing the role of Elettra in Mozart's Idomeneo in Toronto, was a guest on the radio program. The lively conversation covered impressions of her visit and performances in Israel in 2007 and her first Mozart opera role with a major opera company. Conductor of Orchestre Metropolitain de Grand Montreal, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, also made a guest appearance on the show, to elaborate on his recent appointments as the principal conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and as the guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Acclaimed pianist Elena Bashkirova joined Jona Rapoport for a conversation about her musical journey and the foundation of the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival a decade ago.

Art & Fine Living with Jona can be heard live on Radio Shalom CJRS 1650 AM on Sundays at 7pm and on Wednesdays at 3pm. All programs can be accessed world-wide on the radio website at: www.radio-shalom.ca, or retrieved on the archives of the host's page.
Over the past six years, Jona Rapoport's unique show has evolved from four separate programs dedicated to the arts to its present format. Ms Rapoport combines enlightening interviews with artists, presenters and trend-makers from around the world, with a lively presentation of music and updates on upscale lifestyle trends. Her guests have all expressed strong support and admiration for her tireless efforts and commitment to the arts.

Previous guests on the show include: Cinema: Mike Newell, George Weiss; Photography: Varda Pollack-Sahm; Dance: Callye Robinson, Lina Cruz, Margie Gillis, Shen Wei; Visual Arts: Boaz Kaizman, Sandra Grant-Marchand, Joanne Lamoureux; Classical Instrumentalists: Violinist James Ehnes, Pianist Elena Bashkirova, Violinist Jonathan Crow, Pianist Lang Lang, Violinist Gil Shaham, Cellist Denise Djokic, Cellist Yuli Turovsky, Violinist Sophie Dugas; Composers: Thomas Beveridge, Ofer Ben-Amots, Lori Laitman; Classical Vocalists: Bass Denis Sedov, Soprano Hasmik Papian, Soprano Natalie Dessay, Soprano Manon Feubel, Mezzo Michle Losier, Tenor Ben Heppner, Tenor Richard Margison, Tenor Frederic Antoun, Tenor Marc Hervieux; Specialists: Michel Beaulac (Opera), Pierre Vachon (Opera), Chantal Lambert (Opera); Jazz/World: Carol Welsman, Sophie Milman, Harry Connick Jr, Alain Caron, Walter Blanding, Imani Gonzales, Sean Lennon; Conductors: Yuli Turovsky, Jacques Lacombe, Rolf Bertsch, Yannick Nezet- Seguin, Ascher Fisch; Theatre: Daniel Lillford, Vittorio Rossi, Peter Hinton, Quincy Armorer, Daniel Brooks, Ben Gonshor, Elan Kunin , Caroline Cave ,Bryna Wasserman, Mark Watty, Roy Surette; Travel: George Deeb, Marian Marbury; Fine Living: Joel Giberovitch, Chef Paul Little; Publisher and antique expert,Terry Kovel.

Producer and host Jona Rapoport is also the manager and publicist of American art song composer, Lori Laitman.

For more information, visit www.jonarapoport.com.

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The VSO presents Die Fledermaus with the UBC Opera Ensemble!


Vancouver BC The final Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets concert of the season features the concert version of composer Johann Strauss Jr.s most popular piece Die Fledermaus. Conducted by Maestro Bramwell Tovey, narrated by Christopher Gaze, and featuring the UBC Opera Ensemble, this 2pm matinee performance takes place on Thursday, May 15th at the Orpheum Theatre.

Created in 1995 by Professor Nancy Hermiston, the UBC Opera Ensemble draws its performers from advanced students in the UBC School of Music and young professionals. The ensemble tours regularly throughout Canada and Europe allowing its students to gain international experience. Having performed excerpts from The Merry Widow together in the 2006-2007 season, the VSO is delighted to be collaborating once again with this ensemble.

The Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets series presents six matinee concerts throughout the Season, all on Thursday afternoons at the Orpheum. These concerts feature light classical repertoire with host/narrator Christopher Gaze of Bard on the Beach fame, and are social events in themselves: a small army of VSO volunteers coordinates the serving of tea and cookies an hour before each concert throughout the Orpheum lobby for 2,500+ people each concert. A great way to spend Thursday afternoons, the Tea & Trumpets series has been one of the VSOs most successful series concepts of the last twenty years.

A Synopsis of Die Fledermaus:

Gabriel von Eisenstein has been sentenced to a week's imprisonment for a minor offense. Before he goes to jail, his friend Dr. Falke persuades him to go to a ball being given by Prince Orlofsky. Three years earlier, Falke, dressed as a bat for a fancy-dress ball, was made to walk home in broad daylight as a joke by Eisenstein. Ever since that incident, he has been plotting his revenge. Rosalinda believes her husband is leaving for prison and invites her lover, Alfred, over for a rendezvous. The prison governor soon arrives to arrest Eisenstein and assumes Alfred to be him. Alfred allows himself to be taken off to prison as Eisenstein in order to protect Rosalindas reputation.

At the ball given by Prince Orlofsky, Rosalindas maid, Adele, wearing one of her mistress's gowns, has arrived. Eisenstein flirts outrageously with her, watched by his wife, whom Falke has disguised as a Hungarian Countess. Eisenstein then turns his attentions to the mysterious Countess, who manages to get a hold of his watch during their amorous tte--tte. The ball ends in praise of champagne and swearing of eternal friendship. The clock strikes six in the morning and Eisenstein begins his journey to prison.

Eisenstein arrives at the prison to begin his prison sentence. He is shocked to find he is being impersonated by Alfred and becomes infuriated when he realizes his wife has a lover. Rosalinda counters with the watch the 'Countess' obtained at the ball and his flirting with their maid Adele. Falke arrives just in time to explain it was all a joke in order to get his long awaited revenge. Champagne is blamed for the confusion and they all drink to celebrate reconciliation.

CONCERT INFO

Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets Series

Die Fledermaus

Thursday, May 15, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey conductor

Christopher Gaze host

UBC Opera Ensemble

Strauss Die Fledermaus

Ticket prices $35 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets Available at VSO Customer Service, 604.876.3434; Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone, 604.280.3311; online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Series Generously Sponsored By:

Pacific Arbour

BIOGRAPHIES

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

A musician of striking versatility, Bramwell Tovey is acknowledged around the world for his artistic depth and warm, charismatic personality on the podium. Toveys career as a conductor is uniquely enhanced by his work as a composer and pianist, lending him a remarkable musical perspective.

His tenures as Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony, Luxembourg Philharmonic and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras have been characterized by his expertise in the opera, choral, and British repertoire. Tovey recently garnered a 2007 Grammy Award and a 2007 Juno Award for his recording with violinist James Ehnes and the Vancouver Symphony. Recently named Principal Guest Conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, he works frequently with the Toronto Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Royal Philharmonic and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras, among many others. He has presided as host and conductor of the New York Philharmonics Summertime Classics series at Avery Fisher Hall since its founding in 2004.

A champion of contemporary music, Tovey developed the highly regarded New Music Festival in Winnipeg, during his tenure as Music Director. As a composer, he was honored with the Best Canadian Classical Composition Juno Award in 2003 for his Requiem for a Charred Skull. Upcoming new works include a co-commission for the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics respective 2008 summer seasons as well as a full-length opera for the Calgary Opera, The Inventor, to premiere in January of 2011.

Tovey has been awarded honorary degrees, including a Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music in London, honorary Doctorates of Law from the universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba, and Kwantlen University College, as well as a Royal Conservatory of Music Fellowship in Toronto. In 1999, he received the M. Joan Chalmers National Award for Artistic Direction, a Canadian prize awarded to artists for outstanding contributions in the performing arts.

Christopher Gaze, host

Christopher Gaze is best known as Artistic Director of Vancouvers Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. Christopher hails from England where he trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He came to Canada in 1975 and has performed in virtually every major centre across Canada and the USA, including three seasons at the Shaw Festival. He moved to Vancouver in 1983 and founded Bard on the Beach in 1990. In addition to directing and acting with Bard, Christopher is the popular host of many Vancouver cultural events and often shares his insights on the theatre and Shakespeare with school groups, service organizations and local businesses. Christopher was recently honoured with an induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, Canadas Meritorious Service Medal, an Honorary Doctorate from Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, the BC Community Achievement Award and the 2007 Medallion from the Childrens Theatre Foundations of America.

UBC Opera Ensemble

The UBC Opera Ensemble, under the direction of UBC Voice and Opera Division Head Nancy Hermiston, draws its performers from advanced students and young professionals. The ensemble tours regularly throughout Canada and Europe, produces two fully staged and costumed productions at the beautiful Chan Centre, as well as the lively and informative Opera Tea Series and the David Spencer Endowment Encouragement Fund Concert. Students participate in all aspects of the productions alongside professional singers, conductors, musicians, designers and technicians.

This years productions include Gilbert and Sullivans The Gondoliers, Puccinis La Bohme, and Bachs Johannes Passion (St. Johns Passion). In addition to its regular productions, the Ensemble is a frequent collaborator of such organizations as Bard on the Beach, Vancouver Opera, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

-VSO-

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Young pianist helps tell the tale of the boy genius Mozart



Remarkable young pianist joins Tania Miller

to tell the tale of the boy genius Mozart

Victoria, BC At 8pm on May 6th at the Marriott Hotel, Shanna Fong, a gifted and award winning young pianist, joins the Victoria Symphonys Music Director Tania Miller for Miller, Mozart and Martinis a special addition to the 2008 Mozart Festival.

Tania Miller will be discussing the life of Mozart and the impact his music has had on her and the world of music during this intimate social evening. Miller will tell the story of Mozarts life including his travels through Europe as a young soloist. To enhance the tale of the young genius Shanna Fong will perform one of Mozarts most popular keyboard works, Sonata K330, which was composed between 1780 and 1784 in Munich or during Mozarts early years in Vienna.

Maestra Miller will be sharing her love for Mozarts music with attendees, as well as relaxing with a special Mozart Martini and mingling with guests. She is looking forward to the event, Mozart would be most amused to see us getting together to toast him with a few martinis! Im looking forward to celebrating with fellow Mozart lovers and spending some time sharing my love for his music.

There are a limited number of tickets left for this event. Tickets can be purchased for $50 by calling 385-6515.

Shanna Fong began piano lessons at the age of six with her current teacher, Mrs. Ingrid L. Henderson at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Now only 13 years old Shanna has won numerous awards in the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival including the Junior Piano Concerto Cup in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and the Intermediate Concerto Cup in 2006. In addition, she was awarded the Intermediate Nathan Geminiano Cup for most distinguished piano performer and selected to represent Victoria in the B.C. Performing Arts Festival June 2006 receiving the

Runner-up award.

In July 2004 Shanna performed Mozart Piano Concerto No.8, K246, at the University of Victoria Piano Summer School concerto and chamber concert with string ensemble and again in 2007 performing the first movement of Mozart Piano Concerto No.13, K459. Recently, Shanna was invited to perform on stage in collaboration with world renowned violinist Moshe Hammer April 18th at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall.

Celebrating the extraordinary genius of Mozart and his contemporaries, the third annual Mozart Festival brings the incredible pianists of the Parker family to Victoria and includes a host of other events to appeal to everyone with a special affinity for everything Mozart.

The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Islands largest and most active arts organization offering its audiences 67 years of tradition, a commitment to fostering new music and a dedication to community involvement through music education. Showcasing the outstanding talents of its musicians and guest artists the Victoria Symphonys 2007-2008 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 100 concerts led by its vibrant Music Director Tania Miller.

Single ticket prices:

Orchestral concerts $25 to $60

Chamber concerts $25

Miller, Mozart and Martinis $50

Movie In Search of Mozart $10

Festival passes are also available. All passes and tickets can be purchased through the Victoria Symphony box office 385-6515 or www.victoriasymphony.ca

Calendar of Events

Saturday, May 3, 8pm, Royal Theatre

Orchestral concert: Jon Kimura Parker, piano Tania Miller, conductor

Sunday, May 4, 1pm SOLD OUT

Childrens concert: The Magic Flute, The Victoria Music Corner Ensemble

Sunday, May 4, 7:30pm Alix Goolden Hall

Chamber concert:: Colin Tilney and Friends

Tuesday, May 6, 8pm Marriott Hotel

Social event with Tania Miller, Miller, Mozart and Martinis

Wednesday, May 7 8pm

Film screening: In Search of Mozart, documentary, Marriott Hotel

Thursday, May 8, 8pm Royal Theatre

Orchestral concert: Ian Parker, piano Tania Miller, conductor

Saturday, May 10, 7:30pm Alix Goolden Hall

Chamber concert: Gryphon Trio

Sunday May 11, 2:30pm and Monday, May 12, 8pm Royal Theatre

Orchestral concert: Ian, James and Edward Parker, piano Tania Miller, conductor

For tickets and venue information contact 385-6515 or visit www.victoriasymphony.ca

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NACO, May 10: Eugene Levy - Music and Humour: TD Canada Trust Family Adventures

Ottawa (Canada) Canadas own crazy comedian Eugene Levy joins the National Arts Centre Orchestra for Music and Humour, the final TD Canada Trust Family Adventures concerts of the season on Saturday, May 10 at 13:30 and 15:30 in the afternoon. Eugene Levy and Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott, with the help of Ottawa actor Pierre Brault, pianist Gabriel Thibaudeau, and the Bangers and Smash percussion duo, will take the NAC Orchestra on a romp through the funny side of music. Meet the many composers who had a well developed funny bone in a concert that will leave you in hysterics! The one-hour bilingual TD Canada Trust Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra are perfect for kids 5 and up, and their grown-up friends

The concert ticket includes TUNETOWN, pre-concert activities in the NAC Foyer organized by Friends of the NAC Orchestra 45 minutes prior to each concert, beginning at 12:45 for the first concert and 14:45 for the second concert. Activities on May 10 include a percussion instrument petting zoo led by students from the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and the University of Ottawa; a display of humorous books from the Ottawa Public Library; a Tongue-Twister bowl; comedy improvisation with the students of Lisgar Collegiate Institutes Improv Team; a sing-along of funny songs with Music for Young Children; a display of Chuckle Bros cartoons with NACO violinist Brian Boychuk, and a craft station where kids can make their own hippo pencil toppers.

Eugene Levy was one of the founding members of Second City (SCTV) and has appeared as supporting actor in a long string of movies including the American Pie series, three Christopher Guest mockumentaries which he co-wrote A Mighty Wind, Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show and four movies with Steve Martin including Father of the Bride. He has been inducted twice into the Canadian Walk of Fame both as a member of SCTV in 2002 and solo in 2006 and one week prior to the NAC Orchestra concert he is being honoured for Lifetime Achievement at the Governor Generals Performing Arts Awards at the NAC where his longtime friend Martin Short will be his presenter.

The concert includes musical selections from Haydns Surprise Symphony; Leroy Andersons The Waltzing Cat; Big Business both written and performed by pianist Gabriel Thibaudeau, and themes from Hockey Night in Canada and The Simpsons. John Serrys Waltz will be performed on percussion by Bangers and Smash, and Leopold Mozarts Toy Symphony will be performed with the help of some young members of the audience. Eugene Levy together with Pierre Brault will provide the hilarious baseball sportscasting for Peter Schikeles famous take on Beethovens Fifth. The concert will also incorporate cartoons by the NAC Orchestras own funnyman Brian Boychuk of the internationally syndicated Chuckle Bros comic strip.

All TD Canada Trust Family Adventures feature NACOtron presented in collaboration with Rogers Television. Five television cameras positioned on stage and in the hall capture live video images of the musicians while they are performing, and these images are projected onto a giant screen above the stage allowing the audience to watch the action in close-up.

The Ottawa Citizen is the media partner of the TD Canada Trust Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra.

Tickets for Music and Humour with Eugene Levy on Saturday, May 10 at 13:30 and 15:30, including TuneTown Pre-Concert Activities, are $12.00 for children and $20.00 for adults (including GST and Facility Fee where applicable). They are on sale now at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Visit the National Arts Centres web site at www.nac-cna.ca.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 613-947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 5:49 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Normand Deveault et son ensemble au Balcon

LES ANTILLES FRANAISES EN MUSIQUE

en compagnie de

Normand Deveault et son ensemble

Vendredi le 9 mai 2008

Le Balcon caf-thtre vous invite une soire majestueuse aux couleurs antillaises des plus belles et chaleureuses musiques en provenance du pays du soleil. Un spectacle de rve mettant l'honneur les rythmes jazz caribens habilement prsents par Normand Deveault et son ensemble.

Ayant vcu prs de 20 ans dans les Antilles Franaises, Normand Deveault a su s'imprgner de ces rythmes caribens. Il s'est ensuite entour en crant ce spectacle d'excellents musiciens tel que Normand Guilbault, ce contrebassiste dont la rputation n'est plus faire. Cet ensemble musical de haut calibre saura trs bien nous transmettre et nous faire partager leur passion pour ces rythmes uniques travers une slection de pices originales, de classiques de ces pays et de quelques reprises habilement tries sur le volet. Un spectacle endiabl nous offrant une musique saveur de vacance et de soleil.

Venez vous joindre nous au Balcon caf-thtre le 9 mai prochain pour vous donner un avant got de la saison estivale.

17h30 : Table d'hte 4 services avec ambiance live, spectacle, taxes et pourboire inclus 62.08$

20h30 : Possibilit d'assister au spectacle seulement 16.93$

Le Balcon Caf-Thtre est situ au 304 rue Notre-Dame est Montral.


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Denis Drolet - Dernire chance Montral


Les Denis Drolet

LES DENIS DROLET LES DROLETTERIES

DERNIRE CHANCE MONTRAL

16 MAI - CINQUIME SALLE DE LA PLACE DES ARTS

Montral, le 30 avril 2008 Incarnant tout ce qui est contraire la logique et la structure, les Denis Drolet fouleront la scne de la Cinquime Salle le 16 mai dans le cadre de la dernire reprsentation montralaise des Droletteries.

Sillonnant le Qubec avec Les Droletteries depuis janvier 2007, ce spectacle en aura sduit plus d'un, comme en fait foi cette sixime reprsentation en sol montralais. Au programme, de nouveaux personnages dbrids ainsi que l'irremplaable Just-To-Buy-My-Love, des textes imprvisibles et droutants, des chansons tires de leur album 2d et des fous rires garantis !

Les dignes reprsentants du non-sens vous invitent pour la dernire fois l'intrieur de l'univers savoureusement dlirant des Droletteries, suite quoi les Denis Drolet s'clipseront afin de plancher sur de nouveaux projets. Parions que les nouvelles activits de notre duo absurde prfr seront aussi rafrachissantes que leurs spectacles !

"Leur humour est toujours aussi hilarant, dstabilisantĶ et irrsistible! Les Denis Drolet sont toujours aussi rafrachissants dans le merveilleux monde de l'humour qubcois. S'ils n'existaient pas, il faudrait les inventer."

Maxime Demers, Journal de Montral

"On rit en avoir mal au ventre."

Isabelle Mass, La Presse

"Quelque chose de totalement unique, o l'on passe de Claude Gauvreau aux Dmons du midi."

Catherine Perin, Premire chane

Du pur bonheur!

Cafine, TQS

Hip-di-Hip hourra!!! Billets en vente maintenant sur le rseau Admission

(514) 7901245, sans frais au 1-800-3614595, www.admission.com.

La tourne Les Droletteries tire sa fin! Plus qu'une reprsentation l'extrieur de Montral !

24 mai Ste-Anne-de-Sorel (Thtre du Chenal-du-Moine)

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Call for $10,000 grant applications open

Music teachers in Canada sing the praises of MusiCan 

TORONTO, April 29 - Today, MusiCan celebrates a recent survey that proves with a
fistful of money and a lot of heart, significant growth in music education is
possible. The survey reported that recipient school students have been given the
ability to explore different genres of music, seen the creation of new musical
ensembles and many recipient schools have indicated an increased number of public
performances since being awarded a grant. MusiCan, the charitable arm of the
Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), plans to continue its
mission to elevate music education in Canadian schools, and is now accepting
applications for 2008-2009 Band Aid grants. Schools will find more information on
application criteria, including downloadable Application Forms for Band Aid grants
at www.musican.ca.          

Applications will be accepted from May 1 - August 1, 2008.
The Band Aid musical instrument grants provide Canadian public schools - elementary,
secondary and separate - $10,000 towards the purchase of new musical instruments.
Past grant recipients continue to report positive effects of the increased inventory
size and quality of musical instruments available at their schools,
and an increased time spent on instruction instead of instrument repair.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 2:56 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Saison 2008-2009 - Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral


PRENEZ PART AU MOUVEMENT !

Montral, le 29 avril 2008 Forts du succs de sa saison 2007-2008, o des records d'assistance ont t fracasss avec des salles remplies 95 % et plus de 75 000 spectateurs pour la seule anne 2007, c'est le coeur la fte que Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral entreprennent leur 52e saison. Sous la direction artistique de Gradimir Pankov, la compagnie promet encore une fois d'en mettre plein la vue avec un florilge de spectacles, mettant en vedette les chorgraphes bien tablis et les toiles montantes du ballet contemporain. Cette nouvelle saison s'annonce grisante, somptueuse et irrsistible!

Tchakovski est sur tous les fronts ! Un des fils conducteurs de la saison est sans contredit la musique du compositeur russe P.I. Tchakovski (1840-1893), au programme de tous les spectacles cette anne, deux exceptions prs! Le chorgraphe russe Boris Eifman et sa clbre compagnie, le Eifman Ballet Theatre de Saint-Ptersbourg, brosse mme le portrait de cet homme dchir dans Tchakovski possd par son double, un de ses ballets les plus achevs, au programme de la saison. L'oeuvre abondante de Tchakovski opras, ballets, symphonies, concertos, musique de chambre, mlodies , a exerc une influence considrable sur plusieurs gnrations de compositeurs russes et continue de sduire tous les publics.

Autre fil conducteur : la saison 2008-2009 des Grands Ballets comprend des oeuvres qui ont suscit un trs grand enthousiasme leur cration, parmi lesquels La dame de pique de Kim Brandstrup, La belle au bois dormant de Mats Ek et Re-, II de Shen Wei, afin qu'ils touchent un auditoire encore plus vaste. Ces oeuvres hautement visuelles oprent une fusion remarquable entre tradition et modernit, mtissant la danse la littrature et aux autres formes d'art. Spectaculaires, virtuoses et divertissantes, elles s'abreuvent de grands classiques : une

nouvelle fantastique de Pouchkine pour La dame de pique, un conte populaire qui a marqu de nombreuses gnrations dans le cas de La belle au bois dormant. ces relectures, se rattache galement le fameux Casse- Noisette de Fernand Nault, inspir du conte d'Hoffmann. Pour sa part, le chorgraphe Shen Wei nous convie avec Re-, II une rencontre entre le pass et le prsent, entre l'Orient et l'Occident, dans un langage dfiant toute catgorisation.

CONCOURS CHORGRAPHIQUE : UNE BOUFFE D'AIR FRAIS

Comme entre en matire, assistez en dbut de saison aux premiers pas de quatre jeunes chorgraphes canadiens, dont un du Qubec. gs de moins de 30 ans et slectionns pour leur originalit, les laurats du premier concours chorgraphique national mis sur pied par Gradimir Pankov ont eu cinq semaines pour crer des pices ne dpassant pas 25 minutes pour un maximum de quatre danseurs de la compagnie. Ces futures ttes d'affiches de la danse canadienne, de concert avec les GBCM, vous invitent tre tmoins de leurs prcieux dbuts les 25, 26 et 27 septembre 2008 l'Agora de la danse. Prparez-vous une bouffe d'air frais!

LA DAME DE PIQUE : ATOUT MAJEUR

Suivra La dame de pique, du chorgraphe danois Kim Brandstrup, l'une des productions les plus ambitieuses des GBCM. Cette somptueux oeuvre intgrale pour une trentaine de danseurs, sur la musique de Gabriel Thibodeau d'aprs Tchakovski, conjugue audacieusement danse sur pointes et dcors virtuels. La dame de pique est inspire de la nouvelle ponyme de l'crivain Alexandre Pouchkine (1799-1837) qui raconte les amours destructrices d'Hermann, un officier de l'arme russe, obsd par l'ide d'arracher une vieille comtesse son secret pour gagner aux cartes et accder ainsi l'lite. Kim Brandstrup, cinaste et chorgraphe danois passionn

de cinma muet, dont les matres penser sont Kurosawa ou Eisenstein, en a compltement dpoussir le rcit. J'ai toujours t intress raconter des histoires avec mes ballets en utilisant le langage du cinma contemporain. Toute ma dmarche vient de l et ce, depuis longtemps , prcise l'artiste. Monte comme un film, brlante d'actualit, cette relecture rsolument novatrice de Pouchkine par Brandstrup s'impose comme un atout majeur dans l'univers de la cration. La dame de pique joue toutes les bonnes cartes. (The National Post ). Les 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 31 octobre et 1er novembre au Thtre Maisonneuve de la Place des Arts.

CASSE-NOISETTE : UN GRAND CLASSIQUE

Durant le temps des Ftes, prenez l'express des Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral en direction du monde ferique de Casse-Noisette. En compagnie des jeunes guides Clara et Fritz et d'une ribambelle d'enfants, dcouvrez un univers fantasmagorique aux dcors somptueux. Escale au fabuleux Pays des neiges, sjour inoubliable au Royaume des friandises et audience avec le Roi des Bonbons et la Fe Drage sont au programme! Vous y croiserez plus de 150 personnages aux costumes riches et chatoyants. Cet immortel conte d'Hoffmann chorgraphi

en 1964 par Fernand Nault sur la ravissante musique de Tchakovski! comblera toute la famille. Prenez vite vos places, le joyeux convoi ne prend le dpart qu'une fois l'an. Du 13 au 30 dcembre la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier de la Place des Arts.

TCHAKOVSKI POSSD PAR SON DOUBLE : UN BALLET TRIOMPHAL

En fvrier, cap sur la Russie ! Encens par la critique lors de son premier passage Montral, le Eifman Ballet Theatre de Saint-Ptersbourg est de retour l'invitation des Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral. La clbre troupe, qui prsentait sa renversante Giselle rouge en 2005, nous revient avec Tchakovski possd par son double de Boris Eifman, philosophe de la danse salu par le New York Times comme le plus brillant chorgraphe russe . Sur son lit de mort, Piotr Illitch Tchaikovski dlire, hallucine, se ddouble, revit les vnements dterminants de sa vie. L'oeuvre, grandiose, nous plonge au coeur de la vie tourmente du compositeur, tortur

par une homosexualit rprime, et dchir entre sa soif de reconnaissance et son dsir de rbellion. Liant brillamment des extraits de ses chefs-d'oeuvre musicaux, elle met en lumire l'extraordinaire intensit dramatique et la technique sans failles des danseurs de la compagnie. Un ballet qui a fait un tabac Paris et New York! Pour trois soirs seulement les 19, 20 et 21 fvrier 2009 la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier de la Place des Arts.

UNE NOUVELLE CRATION DE STIJN CELIS JUMELE RE, II DE SHEN WEI :

DEUX MUSTS ABSOLUS!

Le chorgraphe belge Stijn Celis est la coqueluche actuelle du ballet europen. Aprs avoir cr pour Les Grands Ballets de magnifiques Noces en 2002 et une Cendrillon des plus surprenantes en 2007, Celis nous rserve une cration exclusive pour les GBCM, en premire mondiale. Avec Celis, il faut s'attendre tout! Surprise et dpaysement assurs avec ce chorgraphe audacieux qui n'a pas froid aux yeux et qui se plat dboulonner les mythes. Quoi de mieux que cette premire mondiale pour saluer l'arrive du printemps! Le prodigieux chorgraphe chinois Shen Wei, qui contribuera la 29e Crmonie d'ouverture des Jeux olympiques de Beijing l't 2008, sera galement de la soire avec la reprise de Re-,II, une oeuvre qui a ptrifi littralement le

public par sa beaut singulire (Le Devoir ) en 2007. Ne de ses impressions la suite d'un sjour au temple d'Angkor Vat au Cambodge, Re-, II allie mouvement, peinture, sculpture, Orient et Occident dans un langage d'une incroyable originalit. Deux oeuvres exceptionnelles et hypnotiques, deux musts absolus! Les 26, 27 et 28 mars, 2, 3 et 4 avril 2009 au Thtre Maisonneuve de la Place des Arts.

LA BELLE AU BOIS DORMANT DE MATS EK : UN SPECTACLE DCAPANT!

Subversive, cocasse et touchante de fragilit, La belle au bois dormant de Mats Ek mergera de son sommeil ds l'annonce des beaux jours, grce aux Grands Ballets, aprs une premire prsentation par le Ballet Cullberg en 2001. Le chorgraphe sudois a revisit avec audace nombre de ballets classiques. Un conte de fe est comme une jolie maison, mais il y a un criteau sur la porte annonant zone mine , dit Mats Ek. Dans sa version librement inspire du conte de Perrault et qui salue de quelques clins d'oeil celle de Petipa cre en 1890, des vnements inexplicables se produisent. Exit la belle princesse endormie, bonjour la jeune fugueuse, rebelle et toxicomane, en qute d'amour et de paradis artificiels ! Utilisant une gestuelle ample et incisive, d'une nergie dbride, Mats Ek met en scne une Belle au bois dormant coup-de-poing, marque par sa vision d'une jeune fille stone croise au bord d'une route. La splendide musique de Tchakovski berce le tout! Ceux qui voient cette Belle au bois dormant ne l'oublieront jamais. (The Gazette ). Les 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 et 16 mai 2009

au Thtre Maisonneuve de la Place des Arts.

LES CAUSERIES : POUR SE METTRE AU PARFUM

Une heure avant les reprsentations, danseurs, chorgraphes, musiciens et invits spciaux partagent avec le public un moment privilgi. Soyez des ntres (consultez notre site Internet pour plus de dtails).

SOYEZ AUX PREMIRES LOGES ET OFFREZ-VOUS UN ABONNEMENT!

Pour avoir des informations sur les diffrentes formules d'abonnement des Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral, les forfaits de groupe et les privilges exceptionnels qui y sont rattachs, le grand public est invit tlphoner au 514-849-0269, consulter la brochure de saison ou le site www.grandsballets.com. Le site prsente galement des renseignements sur les spectacles, la compagnie et les danseurs.


Les Grands Ballets canadiens de Montral's 52nd season:

JOIN THE MOVEMENT!

Montral, April 29, 2008 Bolstered by the success of the 2007-2008 seasona year of record-breaking attendance, with seats filled to 95% capacity and over 75,000 spectators in 2007 aloneLes Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral is approaching its 52nd season in high spirits! Under the artistic direction of Gradimir Pankov, the coming year promises to be equally dazzling, with a stunning series of shows that spotlight leading choreographers and rising stars in contemporary ballet. Three words sum it up: sumptuous, heady and irresistible!

Tchaikovsky all the way! One of the season's most evident recurring themes is the music of Russian composer P. I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), which will feature in every show except two! Russian choreographer Boris Eifman and his celebrated troupe, the Eifman Ballet Theatre of St. Petersburg, even go so far as to paint a portrait of the composer himself in Tchaikovsky: The Mystery of Life and Death, one of Eifman's most accomplished works and a prized addition to the season's program. Tchaikovsky's prolific outputhis operas, ballets, symphonies, concertos, chamber music and melodieshas had a strong influence on generations of Russian compose and continues to enchant audiences today.

Other themes: In the interests of reaching an even broader audience, the coming season will include previously staged and highly acclaimed works like Kim Brandstrup's Queen of Spades, Mats Ek's Sleeping Beauty and Shen Wei's Re-, II. Spectacular, virtuosic, entertaining and strongly visual, all three pieces are a remarkable combination of tradition and modernity, juxtaposing dance with literature and other art forms. The 2008-2009 season is also noteworthy in that it revisits a number of great classics, with Brandstrup's Queen of Spades inspired by Puskin's novella; Ek's Sleeping Beauty reworking Perreault's beloved fairytale; and Nault's Nutcracker based on the tale by Hoffmann. As for Wei's Re-, II, it brings together past and present, East and West in an original gestural language that defies categorization.

CHOREOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

To start things off on a bright new note, the season will kick off with the works of four young Canadian choreographers, one of whom is from Quebec. Aged under 30 and chosen for their originality, the winners of the first national choreographic competitionan initiative launched by Gradimir Pankovhad five weeks in which to create a piece for up to four GBCM dancers lasting a maximum of 25 minutes. Together with Les Grands Ballets, these future headliners in Canadian dance invite you to witness their historic debuts on September 25, 26 and

27, 2008 at L'Agora de la danse. Get set for a breath of fresh air!

THE QUEEN OF SPADES: TRUMP CARD

Next up will be one of the GBCM's most ambitious productions to date: The Queen of Spades, by Danish choreographer Kim Brandstrup. Set to Gabriel Thibodeau's reworked version of Tchaikovsky's score, this lush full-length ballet for 30 dancers boldly combines classical pointe work with virtual sets. Adapted from the eponymous novella by Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), The Queen of Spades tells of the destructive passions of Hermann, a Russian army officer obsessed with the notion of obtaining a secret from an old countess that will let him win at cards and gain access to the upper levels of society. Brandstrupa filmmaker and choreographer whose artistic mentors (notably Eisenstein and Kurosawa) reflect his passion for the silver

screenhas breathed new life into the tale. "I have always been interested in telling stories with my ballets through the language of contemporary film. It's the basis for my whole approach and has been for a long time," said the artist. Staged like a film and brimming with feverish activity, Bandstrup's rereading of Pushkin is a winning card in the world of dance creation. "Queen of Spades deals all the right cards." National Post October 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 31 and November 1, 2008 at Thtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts.

THE NUTCRACKER: RETURN OF A BELOVED CLASSIC

This holiday season, take the GBCM express to the magical realm of The Nutcracker. With your young guides Clara and Fritz and a throng of youngsters, discover a phantasmagorical world brought to life by dazzling sets.

On the itinerary: a stopover in the legendary Land of Snow, an unforgettable stay in the Land of Sweets, an audience with the King of Sweets and an encounter with the Sugarplum Fairy! Meet over 150 sparklingly costumed characters as your journey unfolds. Hoffmann's timeless tale, choreographed in 1964 by Fernand Nault to Tchaikovsky's ravishing score, is a treat for the whole family. Hurry and get your seats: this joyous procession departs but once a year! December 13 to 30, 2008 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts.

TCHAIKOVSKY: THE MYSTERY OF LIFE AND DEATH: A TOUR DE FORCE

Come February, it's destination Russia! Critically acclaimed on their first visit to Montral, the Eifman Ballet Theatre of St. Petersburg is back at the invitation of Les Grands Ballets. The famous troupe, that wowed the city with Red Giselle, now presents Tchaikovsky: The Mystery of Life and Death by Boris Eifman, a "philosopher of dance" hailed by The New York Times as "Russia's most successful contemporary choreographer." Piotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, on his deathbed, delirious and hallucinating, relives the major events of his life. Eifman's magnificent ballet plunges the audience into the tormented life of the Russian composer, tortured by his repressed homosexuality and torn between his rebellious nature and his thirst for recognition. Peopled by characters from the Tchaikovsky's legendary ballets, the work brilliantly weaves together excerpts of the composer's musical masterpieces. Tchaikovsky: The Mystery of Life and Death also points up the extraordinary dramatic intensity and faultless technique of Eifman's dancers. A ballet that took Paris and New York by storm! For three nights only: February 19, 20 and 21, 2009 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts.

STIJN CELIS' NEW WORK PAIRED WITH RE, II BY SHEN WEI: A MUST-SEE DOUBLE BILL!

After his magnificent Noces (2002) and equally astonishing Cinderella (2007), both of which he created for Les Grands Ballets, Belgian choreographer Stijn Celis will serve up a new work created exclusively for the company. As always, with Celisthe darling of European dance, and a bold choreographer who likes nothing better than to dismantle tradition and mythanything is possible. Change of scene guaranteed; and what better way to greet the arrival of spring than with a world premiere? Also on the evening's program is the extraordinary Shen Wei. The Chinese choreographer, whose work will feature in the opening ceremonies of the 29th Olympic Games this summer in Beijing, will stage a reprise of Re-, IIa work that, when it first played in Montral in 2007, "veritably froze audiences to their seats with its singular beauty" (Le Devoir ). Based on impressions from Wei's sojourn at the Angkor Vat temple in Cambodia, Re-, II brings East and West together with movement, painting and sculpture in a language of incredible originality. Two masterful, compelling works: two absolute musts!

March 26, 27, 28 and April 2, 3 and 4, 2009 at Thtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts.

MATS EK'S SLEEPING BEAUTY: AN EYE-OPENING EVENING!

First staged by the Cullberg Ballet in 2001, Mats Ek's subversive, comical and heart-rendingly fragile Sleeping Beauty awakens in Montral come summer, courtesy of Les Grands Ballets. The Swedish choreographer is known for his radical reworkings of various classical ballets. "A fairy tale is like a pretty little cottage," Ek said, "with a sign on the door saying 'Danger: landmines!'" Ek has taken Charles Perrault's original tale and created a bold adaptation that, with occasional nods to Marius Petipa's 1890 choreography, ushers in the unexpected. Exit the beautiful sleeping princess: enter the young runaway, a rebellious junkie in search of love and caught up in an artificial paradise. "I have a strong urge to tell stories," said Ek. Inspired by an encounter with a young addict on the street, Ek's Sleeping Beauty delivers a knockout punch through its use of an unbridled, energetic and incisive gestural language. All of it wrapped up in Tchaikovsky's splendid score. "Those who see this Sleeping Beauty will never forget it." (The Gazette ) May 7, 8, 9, 14 and 15, 2009 at Thtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts.

PRE-SHOW TALKS: ARTISTIC ENCOUNTERS PAR EXCELLENCE

An hour before each performance, audience members can share an exclusive moment with dancers, choreographers, musicians or special guests. Join us! Details are available on our website.

SECURE THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE: SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

For more information on subscribing to Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral, group rates and the many related benefits, call 514-849-0269, consult the seasonal brochure or visit www.grandsballets.com, where you'll also find information on shows, the company and its dancers.

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[Montreal] Bilan de la 4e dition de Pas de danse, pas de vie!

Montral, le 29 avril 2008 Cest aujourd'hui, 29 avril, quun peu partout dans le monde est clbre la Journe Internationale de la danse, instaure en 1982 par lUNESCO. sa manire, depuis 2005, le Regroupement qubcois de la danse marque le coup, avec Pas de danse, pas de vie!, un vnement qui se droule sur prs dune semaine et mobilise bnvolement quelques centaines de professionnels de la danse Montral et ailleurs au Qubec.

Temps fort de rassemblement et de rencontres artistiques avec les citoyens, Pas de danse, pas de vie! souligne la vitalit de la danse qubcoise en marquant sa place dans la Cit et le quotidien des citoyens, de tous ges, de toutes cultures. Avec cette quatrime dition, les Montralais ont profit dun parcours dactivits gratuites orchestr par plus de 200 artistes et presque autant denseignants et de travailleurs en danse. Ce sont plusieurs milliers personnes qui ont foul les Traces chorgraphiques dposes sur les trottoir et sous leurs pieds. Ce sont des centaines dlves qui, linstigation dune cinquantaine denseignants de danse du rseau scolaire, ont dans sur la Trace qui leur tait spcialement ddie, cette anne, par la chorgraphe Marie Chouinard.

Plusieurs moments ont ponctu cette quatrime dition de Pas de danse, pas de danse!, moments immortaliss par la magie de la photo, de la vido, et relays via le site www.quebecdanse.org et plusieurs mdias culturels. Rappelons les ftes organises dans deux coles primaires du Plateau-Mont-Royal pour clore en beaut le projet Traceurs luvre, une premire exprience de mdiation culturelle mene par le Regroupement qubcois de la danse en partenariat avec la maison de la culture du Plateau-Mont-Royal. Soulignons le coup denvoi de Pas de danse, pas de vie! 2008, le 21 avril dernier, en prsence du premier ministre du Qubec, Jean Charest qui, accompagne dAnik Bissonnette, marraine de lvnement, et de Marie Chouinard, auteure de la Trace chorgraphique 2008 peinte devant son bureau, assistait une petite danse improvise par six enfants. Mentionnons la participation enthousiaste des citoyens la cinquantaine de cours de danse gratuits, aux ateliers-dmonstrations, aux portes ouvertes, et lexprience que leur proposait La 2e Porte Gauche dans un appartement de la rue Garnier, Montral. Soulignons, enfin, laffluence du tout public la Place des Arts, durant la journe du dimanche, alors que prs de 35 performances in situ furent prsentes en quasi-simultanit dans une atmosphre de fte populaire et de pur plaisir par plus de 125 artistes du SquatDanse, dont Jos Navas, [bjm_danse] Les Ballets Jazz de Montral et La La La Human Steps.

lenseigne du plaisir de danser et de voir danser, cette quatrime dition de Pas de danse, pas de vie!, dont je suis extrmement fire, donne la mesure de ce que la communaut de la danse recle comme nergie rassembleuse et contagieuse , souligne Anik Bissonnette, prsidente du RQD. Lan prochain, au printemps 2009, cette mobilisation extraordinaire que nous venons de connatre sera certainement dcuple lors des seconds tats Gnraux de la danse, alors que la communaut de la danse sera rassemble pour se doter dune vision davenir concerte.

Sans relche, jusqu pareille date lan prochain, les travaux des Grands Chantiers de la danse, mens par plusieurs comits responsables des recherches et des consultations, suivront leur cours. Sur leurs tables de travail, des thmatiques ouvertes sur lavenir : le dfi dune relve disciplinaire en danse ; la qualification de la main duvre en danse ; les conditions de la pratique au regard des exigences de lart ; la consolidation de linfrastructure de la danse ainsi que loccupation des territoires de la danse. En filigrane deux proccupations tissent la toile des rflexions : la place de lartiste dans la Cit ainsi que les exigences de la recherche et de la cration en danse.

Avec cette quatrime dition de Pas de danse, pas de vie!, la communaut de la dansea fix ses repres, depuis les coles de quartier jusquau bureau du premier ministre du Qubec, en passant par le Quartier des spectacles, les lieux phares de la danse Montral et au Qubec, les conseils des arts et le conseil du trsor. Le prochain rendez-vous affiche dj ses couleurs, puisque la cinquime dition de Pas de danse, pas de vie! battra le pouls des seconds tats gnraux de la danse, dune communaut tourne vers lavenir.

Le Regroupement qubcois de la danse
Fond en 1984, le Regroupement qubcois de la danse (RQD) compte plus de 500 membres professionnels de la danse (interprtes, enseignants, chorgraphes, compagnies, diffuseurs, coles professionnelles, chercheurs). Il est fier de souligner la participation exceptionnelle des artistes de la danse cette nouvelle dition de Pas de danse, pas de vie! et remercie tous ses partenaires, en particulier la Place des Arts.

Tlcharger le communiqu (pdf)

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Hundreds of young musicians rush into the 3rd annual Blues Camp auditions

Montreal, Tuesday, April 29, 2008 MargueriteDe Lajemmerais high school flew its flags last weekend all of them blue! The school hosted the 3rd annual auditions for the upcoming Blues Camp presented by TD Canada Trust, welcoming over 300 music-mad teenagers who flocked in to display their talents on their chosen instrument or on vocals. All the energetic young participants were eager for the opportunity to earn one of 50 final spots and showcase their technique and musical knowledge at this utterly unique and entirely free Blues Camp, presented from June 29 to July 6, 2008 by the Montreal Musical Instrument Show (SIMM) and the Festival International de Jazz de Montral.

The Kids Are Alright!

Say what you will about the younger generation, but if we can judge by the newcomers who shared their passion for music at last weekend's auditions, then the kids are alright! Hundreds of budding young 13-17-year-old musicians were classified according to age and level of musical knowledge before facing a handful of music professionals and professors. Those selected in the first round including, for the first time, a girl on basswere then interviewed and given opportunity to speak about their interests and passions. In every category (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, wind instruments, harmonica and vocals), Blues Camp organizers and judges were utterly thrilled by what they heard from the talent on display. And if you believe in music, and the undiscovered magic that lies in the power of youth, be advised: the vigour, freshness and talent displayed at this third annual audition won't be kept secret for very longĶ

The Blues Camp presents 50 young people showcasing their passion and devotion to the blues, on their chosen instrument, for seven inspiring daysall free of chargefrom June 29 to July 6, 2008, at Cgep du Vieux Montral near the Festival site. All participants will take part in the closing Blues Camp concert for a live audience on July 6, from the TD Canada Trust stage, as part of the Festival International de Jazz de Montral.

The Blues Camp offers its warmest thanks to TD Canada Trust, whose continued proud sponsorship and presentation hit just the right note, making this musical dream camp possible. Our sincere thanks also go out to partners Steve's Music Store, Mel Bay, Aebersold, Vox, Pearl, Marshall, Korg, Phonic and Markbass, cgep du Vieux Montral, CIBL RadioMontral 101.5, Couleur Jazz 91.9 and the Canada Council for the Arts.

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Zachary Richard en 3 temps : Laval, Brossard et Montral

Montral, le 29 avril 2008 Plus que quelques heures avant le coup d'envoi de la tourne mtropolitaine de Zachary Richard ! La tourne Lumire dans le noir le mnera d'une rive l'autre de Brossard Laval avant de s'arrter au Thtre Outremont Montral.

Entour par quatre musiciens exceptionnels, David Torkanowsky aux claviers, Denis Courchesne la batterie et aux percussions, Nicolas Fiszman la basse et ric Sauviat, guitariste de Francis Cabrel, aux guitares, notre Louisianais favori prsentera des pices de son dernier album, Lumire dans le noir, en plus de faire revivre sur scne des succs tels que Cap Enrag, La ballade de Jean Batailleur et Travailler c'est trop dur. Les puissantes mlodies de ses chansons conjugues la sensibilit engage du pote qu'est Zachary Richard laisse entrevoir la promesse d'un spectacle d'une rare intensit. Trois rendez-vous ne pas manquer !

30 avril Laval Salle Andr-Mathieu

www.admission.com

1er mai Brossard L'toile, Quartier DIX30

www.admission.com

2 mai Montral Thtre Outremont

www.ticketpro.ca

DERNIRE CHANCE DE VOIR LE PHNOMNE ZACHARY RICHARD !!

Tout simplement grandiose. ric Aussant, Mtro Montral

Ķ ne peut faire autrement que chavirer le cur de toute personne qui a la chance d'en avoir un. Alexandre Vigneault, La Presse

Ķ la magie de Zachary Richard a fonctionn. David Patry, Le Journal de Montral

Transposer cet univers sur scne et atteindre le mme niveau d'motions n'est pas une mince affaire.Zachary Richard a relev le dfi.. Alexandre Vigneault, La Presse

ZACHARY RICHARD POURSUIT SA TOURNE LUMIRE DANS LE NOIR

30 avril Laval

1er mai Brossard

2 mai Montral

8 mai Joliette

9 mai La Prairie

10 mai Lvis

11 mai Sudbury

17 mai St-Jrme

22 mai Montmagny

23 mai Ste-Marie-de-Beauce

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[Montreal] Upstairs will move into the Maison du Festival de Jazz!

Le Quartier des spectacles welcomes Joel Giberovitch and Upstairs!
Upstairs will move into the Maison du Festival de Jazz!

Montreal, Tuesday, April 29, 2008 - Organizers of the Festival International de Jazz de Montral are happy to announce that, next year, Montreal's own authentic Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill will move into the future Maison du Festival de Jazz, and celebrated jazz-club owner, Joel Giberovitch, is officially joining their team. Beginning in May 2009, Joel Giberovitch will hold the position of Director of Operations for shows and restaurant services at the resto-grill and the Maison Festival de Jazz, which, inaugurated in time for the 30th anniversary of the biggest jazz festival on the planet, will become the jazz temple in Montreal. Joel Giberovitch will make sure to bring with him, not only his expertise and passion for jazz, but his executive chef Juan Barros and personnel and, of course, the very soul of Upstairs, breathing new life into this brand new hot spot for jazz at the heart of Montreal's effervescent cultural scene: the old Blumenthal building in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles.

With a mission to promote jazz 364 days a year, Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill will now enjoy an expanded space and a synergy with the Maison du Festival de Jazz and the Festival, giving it new possibilities for international promotionand that's excellent news for the local jazz community.

Joel Giberovitch joined Upstairs in 1995. After a few years of operating the business, he realized that Montreal was in need of a Jazz venue, with live music as the heart and soul of the club. For inspiration, he took a trip to New York and returned with the vision that we now know as the Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill, an institution in Montreal offering a blend of great live jazz 364 days a year, tasty food, cool ambiance and friendly, efficient service. The programming at Upstairs showcases our Montreal musicians as well as national and international acts. Over the past 13 years, Upstairs has presented more than 500 great artists such as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jeff Healy, Sheila Jordan, Dave Liebman, David Binney, Mark Murphy, Ranee Lee, Sonny Greenwich, Lorraine Desmarais, Alain Caron, Franois Bourassa, and many, many, more. Joel Giberovitch and the Festival International de Jazz de Montral share a vision: to provide Montreal with a premier Jazz Club with an international presence.

Keep in mind that the Maison du Festival de Jazzan extraordinary gift from the Qubec government for the 30th anniversary of the Festivalwith its jazz club and expanded-capacity Upstairs, complete with an attractive terrace smack dab in the middle of the Quartier des spectacles, will serve as a year-round performance venue, a hall of fame, a gallery and permanent exhibition space, and an important audiovisual documentation centre for preserving and protecting the Festival's musical heritage. The international-calibre promotion venue for jazz and musical practice will be open to the public and is sure to become a major tourist attraction in Montreal and its Quartier de spectacles. And the seven-storey building next to the future Place des festivals will also meet the long-term requirements of producing the Festival, providing adequate premises for welcoming the press as well as technical and logistical command centres, which could in turn be used by other festivals operating in the adjacent public space.

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Monday, April 28, 2008

The VSO presents the legendary Canadian mezzo-soprano Judith Forst

Yeah, baby! Its Cool Britannia, with the VSO and legendary Canadian mezzo-soprano Judith Forst!

Vancouver BC The VSO presents the last London Drugs VSO Pops concert of the season Cool Britannia, featuring a sampling of the vast and varied repertoire made famous in concert halls and on movie screens worldwide. This cool concert includes music from the James Bond movies, the Austin Powers theme, music of the Beatles, Gilbert & Sullivan, Ivor Novello, and Noel Coward. Bramwell Tovey conducts and hosts with humour and panache. The VSO is also proud to welcome legendary mezzo-soprano Judith Forst, the Chor Leoni Mens Choir and the Elektra Womens Choir and will take place on Friday & Saturday, May 16th & 17th at the Orpheum Theatre.

It has been over a decade since Vancouvers own mezzo-soprano star, Judith Forst, last collaborated with the VSO she comes out of semi-retirement to sing for the final VSO Pops concert of the season, and audiences eagerly anticipate her return. Forst is truly a Canadian legend, having received the Order of Canada in 1991, the Order of British Columbia in 2001, the Freedom of the City of Port Moody in 1992, and named Canadian Woman of the Year in 1978. She won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions Award and has honourary Doctorates from both UBC and UVic. In 2004, Judith Forst received Canadas most prestigious opera honour a Ruby Award marking her distinguished career in opera. Yet, despite all this reverence, Forst remains extremely down to earth. She regards leading a school concert in Port Moody as important as singing with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. A staunch supporter of new composers, fellow performers, and conductors throughout her career, she generously gives her time for fundraisers and benefit concerts.

The Chor Leoni Mens Choir is one of the leading male choir movements in Canada. Maestro Tovey affirmed Chor Leoni has a polish, a sound, a spontaneity and a style that I feel is unequaled by any male voice choir that I have ever heardĶ In addition to Chor Leonis many concerts, it mentors young singers and gives them an exceptional opportunity to sing with the choir.

Elektra Womens Choir is regarded as an international leader in the classical women's choir movement. Its mandate is to inspire and lead in the choral art form through excellence in performance and through the creation, exploration and celebration of women's repertoire. Elektra is known for adventurous programming, seeking out music written specifically for women and commissioning new works. Singers are selected by audition and share an enthusiasm for challenging repertoire.

Well be seeing you, at the Orpheum!

CONCERT INFO

London Drugs VSO Pops Series

Cool Britannia
Friday & Saturday, May 16 & 17, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre
Bramwell Tovey conductor
Judith Forst mezzo-soprano
Chor Leoni Mens Choir
Elektra Womens Choir

Ticket prices: $25 - $78 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets Available at VSO Customer Service, 604.876.3434; Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone, 604.280.3311; online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Series Generously Sponsored By: London Drugs

May 16th Concert Sponsored By: Holland America

Radio Sponsor: 600AM

BIOGRAPHIES

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

A musician of striking versatility, Bramwell Tovey is acknowledged around the world for his artistic depth and warm, charismatic personality on the podium. Toveys career as a conductor is uniquely enhanced by his work as a composer and pianist, lending him a remarkable musical perspective.

His tenures as Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony, Luxembourg Philharmonic and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras have been characterized by his expertise in the opera, choral, and British repertoire. Tovey recently garnered a 2007 Grammy Award for his recording with violinist James Ehnes and the Vancouver Symphony. Recently named Principal Guest Conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, he works frequently with the Toronto Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Royal Philharmonic and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras, among many others. He has presided as host and conductor of the New York Philharmonics Summertime Classics series at Avery Fisher Hall since its founding in 2004.

A champion of contemporary music, Tovey developed the highly regarded New Music Festival in Winnipeg, during his tenure as Music Director. As a composer, he was honored with the Best Canadian Classical Composition Juno Award in 2003 for his Requiem for a Charred Skull. Upcoming new works include a co-commission for the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics respective 2008 summer seasons as well as a full-length opera for the Calgary Opera, The Inventor, to premiere in January of 2011.

Tovey has been awarded honorary degrees, including a Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music in London, honorary Doctorates of Law from the universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba, and Kwantlen University College, as well as a Royal Conservatory of Music Fellowship in Toronto. In 1999, he received the M. Joan Chalmers National Award for Artistic Direction, a Canadian prize awarded to artists for outstanding contributions in the performing arts.

Judith Forst, mezzo-soprano

Canadian born mezzo-soprano Judith Forst has been highly acclaimed for her operatic and concert performances throughout North America and in Europe in many of the worlds most prestigious theaters which have included the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Netherlands Opera, Dallas Opera, Washington Opera, Vancouver Opera, at the Santa Fe Opera Festival and many others. In 2006 she made her debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan as the Kabinicha in Janaceks Katya Kabanova . Recognized as one of Canada's most distinguished artists, she has been honored with the Order of Canada.

Judith Forst is now most identified with roles such as the Kostelnicka in Janacek's Jenufa, Klytemnestra in Strauss's Elektra, Herodias in Salome and Mme de Croissy in Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmelites, the Countess in Tchaikovskys The Queen of Spades, Augusta Tabor in Moores The Ballad of Baby Doe, the Baroness in Barbers Vanessa and the Witch in Hansel und Gretel. Prior to expanding into this repertoire, she had sung a repertoire of extraordinary versatility and one which encompassed virtually all styles and periods and which has extended into the soprano repertoire as well.

Judith Forst began her career at the Metropolitan Opera when, after her participation in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, General Manager Sir Rudolf Bing immediately offered her a contract with the company. Her first roles at the Metropolitan included Preziosilla in La Forza del Destino, Stephano in Romeo et Juliette and Siebel in Faust and. she has returned to the Metropolitan regularly all through her career for roles such as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni under James Levine, Giulietta in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Countess Adelaide in Arabella, and the Kabinicha in Katya Kabanova. After her firs seasons at the Metropolitan, Forst was soon heard at most of the operatic theaters in North America in roles such as Dorabella in Cosi Fan tutte, Rosina in Il Babiere di Siviglia, the title role in La Cenerentola, Adalgisa in Norma Charlotte in Werther, Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier and Bizets Carmen. She made her Seattle Opera debut as Giovanna Seymour in Anna Bolena and subsequently appeared in this role opposite Dame Joan Sutherland in San Francisco, Toronto, Detroit, Washington D.C and in New York where the concert was also televised as part of the "Live from Lincoln Center" series. Forst made her European debut in Paris in 1985 in a concert performance of Hoffmann and her Munich debut as Preziosilla in La Forza del Destino. She made her London debut in the spring of 1992 in the British premiere of Rossini's Ermione and starred as the Composer in a new production of Ariadne auf Naxos at the English National Opera in 1994.

In recent seasons Forst has participated in productions of many contemporary works and world premieres. She appeared in two such premieres at the San Francisco, singing in Sousa's Liaisons Dangereuses and Previn's Streetcar Named Desire. Both productions were telecast nationally. Forst appeared in Dallas in Argento's Valentino while in Toronto, she created the roles of Pamphilea and Antiope in of The Golden Ass with the Canadian Opera Company Among the many other 20th Century have been of Marie in Berg's Wozzeck, a role she debuted with the Canadian Opera Company and also sang at the San Francisco Opera, the Kostelnicka in Jenufa which she has sung in Vancouver, Toronto and for her debut in Prague, the Kabanicha in Katya Kabanova which entered her repertoire in Santa Fe and which she has also sung at the Metropolitan Opera and at La Scala.. Forst appeared as Countess Adelaide in Arabella in both San Francisco and at the Metropolitan Opera and sang her first Herodias in Salome in San Francisco, where she has recently returned for yet another new role, Augusta Tabor in Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe. She made a sensationally received debut as Klytemnestra in Elektra at Santa Fe and was also highly praised for her Jocasta in Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex in Toronto. Forst has been heard in no less than three leading roles in Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmelites, Mere Marie and Mme Lidoine and in 2002 as Mme de Croissy.

Ms. Forst also keeps an active career on the concert and recital stage and has been heard with leading orchestras throughout North America. As one of Canada's most revered artists, Ms. Forst was the subject of a CBC Television Portrait in 1987. Judith Forst's most recent discography includes the live recorded opera album A Streetcar Named Desire with Andr Previn conducting and From the Diary of Anne Frank, an album of original pieces which two of them were expressly commissioned for Ms. Forst. Outstanding mention is the artist's solo Italian Aria album recorded with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mario Bernardi released in 1988.

Chor Leoni Men's Choir

A rich full-bodied sound, innovative programming, technical precision, meticulous intonation, and versatility coupled with an ever-present musical curiosity and commitment to the creation of new Canadian choral works are qualities that have catapulted Chor Leoni to national and international fame since its founding by Diane Loomer C.M. in 1992. Whether it be a sombre moment of reflection during a Remembrance Day performance or a joyful turn of comedic phrasing at a Summer Solstice show, Chor Leoni is renowned for reaching across the footlights and transforming the performance from concert' to 'conversation.' The lions live up to their name as they fearlessly move between musical genres, always aiming to communicate, engage, and entertain. Engendering tears of emotion, peals of laughter, and gasps of awe from their audiences, Chor Leoni prides itself on its ability to perform in many languages and styles, always sung with fresh energy and poise.

Building on a long history of success in the biennial CBC/Radio-Canada National Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs, Chor Leoni took first in their class of the 2006 competition. In 2002 Chor Leoni won the Male Voice and Contemporary Categories and received a special prize for the Best Performance of a Canadian Work, Chant to Bring Back the Light by R. Murray Schafer. They went on to represent Canada in the Let the Peoples Sing international choral contest. Here they competed against world-renowned choirs representing twenty-one countries. Despite being the only male choir and the only North American choir in the entire competition, Chor Leoni finished in the top four.

The choir is regarded as a leader in the Canadian male choir movement, acting as mentors and inspiration to choirs across the country. Chor Leonis Remembrance Day and Summer Solstice concerts are recognized as popular fixtures on the Vancouver choral calendar.

The choir has performed regularly with Vancouver ensembles and orchestras, toured nationally, and recorded several national broadcasts. In addition to their main concert series, Chor Leoni performs frequently at community events throughout the Lower Mainland and is heard "live-to-air" on CBC Radio each December, as part of the CBC Food Bank Day and on Shelagh Rogers' Christmas Eve broadcast of Sounds Like Canada. In 2005 the choir launched PROMYS (PROgram for Mentoring Young Singers), inviting talented singers from surrounding high schools to join with Chor Leoni in rehearsals and performance.

Chor Leoni has performed for the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors' PODIUM 2000, the International Society of Music Educators' 2000 convention, and for the 2002 regional conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Tacoma, WA. They were the Canadian choral representative for the 2002 AmericaFest World Festival of Singing for Boys and Men at Collegeville, MN, and were enthusiastically received at the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music, held in Minneapolis, MN in August 2002.

In 2006 the choir was asked to record a CD for use in the hospice and palliative care field. Undertaken as a specific non-profit recording project, Healing Voices is a collection of contemplative works that engenders compassion, understanding, and affirmation of life's purpose. It is marketed through the Vancouver-based Callanish Society. Also, Chor Leoni has produced eight CDs which are commercially available, two on Skylark Records (Songs of War and Peace and Magnificat), and six on their own Cypress Choral Recordings label (Canadian Safari, Canadian Safari 2, Goin Home, Chor Leoni, Yuletide Fires and Circle of Compassion). Yuletide Fires was awarded the prestigious 2004 National Choral Award for Outstanding Choral Recording by the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors, and a 2004 Western Canadian Music Award in the category of Outstanding Classical Recording by the Western Canadian Music Alliance. Their latest recording, Circle of Compassion, features music the choir has performed in recent Remembrance Day concerts, much of it commissioned by or arranged for Chor Leoni.

Elektra Women's Choir

Elektra Womens Choir, founded in 1987 by co-conductors Morna Edmundson and Diane Loomer, CM, is regarded as an international leader in the classical women's choir movement. Its mandate is to inspire and lead in the choral art form through excellence in performance and through the creation, exploration and celebration of women's repertoire. Elektra is known for adventurous programming, seeking out music written specifically for women and commissioning new works. Singers are selected by audition and share an enthusiasm for challenging repertoire.

In February 2003, Elektra appeared at the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association in New York, performing at Carnegie Hall, Riverside Church and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Centre. In July 2001, Elektra co-hosted AmericaFest 2001, a five-day festival which brought together hundreds of female singers from around the world to Seattle, Washington. In July 2000, the choir performed at both "Podium", the biennial convention of the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors and the ISME International Society for Music Education's Edmonton conference. In August 1996, Elektra represented Canada at the Fourth World Symposium on Choral Music in Sydney, Australia.

Closer to home, Elektra has hosted two "Tapestry" weekends of women's choir music, welcoming local and guest choirs. In 2003, the choir welcomed its first guest conductor, Spanish composer and conductor, Javier Busto, whose direction of Elektra was an overwhelming success. In April 2004, Elektra captured first place in the Equal Voice Women's Category of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) National Competition for Amateur Choirs, marking the fifth time this choir has taken first prize since 1988. In July 2007 the choir was a featured performer for Festival 500: Sharing the Voices in St Johns, NFLD.

Elektra collaborates with other local musical organizations such as CBC Radio, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Chor Leoni Men's Choir. Elektra's first CD, Elektra Women's Choir (1992), was nominated for a JUNO award. An all-Rheinberger recording was released on the Carus label in 1999 and an all-Canadian disc, Legacy, recorded for the Canadian Music Centre's Centrediscs label, was released in the year 2000. Discs distributed on Canada's Skylark Music label include Elektra Women's Choir, Classic Elektra (1994), From the Heart (1996), A Ceremony of Carols (1997), Child of Grace (2003), and their latest disc, Sacred Spaces (2006). Elektra is heard on national public radio across Canada and the United States.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 8:18 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

L'ESBCM dans un change Qubec - Saxe

Le gouvernement du Qubec et celui de la Saxe choisissent
lcole suprieure de ballet contemporain de Montral et lcole Palucca de Dresde pour un change de rapprochement culturel.

Montral, le 28 avril 2008 - Dans un contexte de croisements culturels et dlaboration de liens stratgiques entre diffrentes nations, lcole suprieure de ballet contemporain de Montral collabore actuellement avec la Palucca Schule, afin de raliser un projet dchanges riche et stimulant qui unira le Qubec et la Saxe lt 2008.

Lide dun tel projet a vu le jour en juillet 2006, lors dune mission officielle en Allemagne, alors que notre Premier ministre du Qubec, M. Jean Charest rencontre le ministre-prsident de la Saxe, M. Georg Milbradt. Ensemble, ils ont clairement exprim leur volont dintensifier et dlargir les relations entre le Qubec et la Saxe, entre autres, par le biais dune de leurs forces communes : la danse.

Suite cette rencontre, le directeur de la prestigieuse cole de danse Palucca Schule, seule acadmie allemande entirement ddie la danse, a choisi dlaborer un projet avec la seule cole de niveau et de structure comparables au Qubec. Grce lintrt du Ministre du Qubec et du Ministre de la Saxe de dvelopper un projet dchange artistique en danse, jai souhait contacter M. Didier Chirpaz, directeur de lcole suprieure de ballet contemporain de Montral, voyant en lui le partenaire idal pour ce projet. En effet, nos coles ont une approche similaire dans leur enseignement artistique (danse classique et danse contemporaine). De plus, elles sinscrivent toutes deux dans une ouverture desprit et dnergie en lien avec le monde professionnel daujourdhui. Jason Beechey, rector Palucca Schule Dresden Hochschule fr Tanz.

Le premier change - dates des reprsentations
Le premier change culturel et artistique entre les deux coles consiste en la ralisation dune chorgraphie commune qui sera interprte par des lves du dernier niveau dtudes et qui sera prsente dans deux villes allemandes, Dresden et Frth, les 8 et 15 juin respectivement, ainsi qu Montral, au Thtre de Verdure au Parc Lafontaine, les 23 et 24 juillet 2008 dans le cadre du spectacle du Jeune Ballet du Qubec.

La ralisation de cette collaboration Qubec-Saxe a t possible grce lappui de nombreux partenaires dont Secrtariat la Jeunesse, le Ministre de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition fminine et le Ministre des Relations internationales :

Propre faire rayonner lexpertise et la culture qubcoise sur la scne internationale et enrichir la coopration Qubec-Saxe, ce projet sinscrit dans les initiatives que le gouvernement du Qubec compte appuyer dans le cadre de sa politique internationale. Sa ralisation constitue aussi un bel exemple du souhait exprim par le premier ministre du Qubec, M. Jean Charest, et le ministre prsident de la Saxe, M. Georg Milbradt, de voir slargir la coopration Qubec-Saxe au secteur culturel. Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, ministre des Relations internationales et ministre responsable de la Francophonie


Positionnement de L'cole suprieure de ballet contemporain de Montral
Ce projet, prometteur dexpriences uniques pour les lves de lESBCM, dmontre le rle stratgique de lcole suprieure en ce qui a trait la formation professionnelle en danse. LESBCM a vu ses lves tre engags tantt par les Grands Ballets canadiens de Montral (Isabelle Paquette, Marie-ve Lapointe, Marisa Pauloni, Alisia Pobega, Jean-Sbastien Couture, Guillaume Pruneau, Martine Lusignan et Sarah Gibson), tantt par les Ballets de Monte-Carlo (Raphal Bouchard, Maude Sabourin), le Ballet British Colombia (Delphine Leroux), les bjm_danse (Sophie-Estel Fernandez, Sara Harton), le Nederlands Dans Theater II (Kristen Cere), Cas Public (Roxane Duchesne-Roy, Sarah Desrosier) et la Compagnie Marie Chouinard (Kimberley de Jong). *

Pour Didier Chirpaz, directeur artistique qui repositionne lESBCM depuis les dix dernires annes en vue de satisfaire les plus hautes exigences des compagnies professionnelles actuelles, cet change confirme la reconnaissance internationale dont bnficie lcole suprieure de ballet contemporain. Cette notorit contribue favoriser lpanouissement des futures gnrations de danseurs et danseuses qubcois.

Lcole suprieure de ballet contemporain de Montral remercie le Ministre de la Culture et des Communications, Patrimoine Canada pour leur soutien financier. Elle remercie galement lcole Saint-Joseph, le Pensionnat du Saint-Nom-de-Marie et le Cgep du Vieux, qui sont ses partenaires acadmiques. LESBCM est membre de lADSAM (lAssociation des coles Suprieures dArt de Montral).

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Opera News from Ireland - Wexford Festival Opera appoints Chief Executive

David McLoughlin appointed CEO of Wexford Festival Opera
The board of Wexford Festival Opera has appointed David McLoughlin as the full-time Chief Executive of both the Festival and the new Wexford Opera House Irelands first purpose-built Opera House (due to open in September 2008).

Mr. McLoughlin has been working as the Interim CEO of Wexford Festival since September 2007. He is the former CEO of Screen Producers Ireland, Film Producer, and Chair of Dublin International Film Festival.

As Chief Executive of Wexford Festival Opera, David will be primarily responsible for preparing the organisation to move to the new Wexford Opera House where it will commence operations with the opening of the Festival in Autumn 2008.

A new Box Office Manager and a new Business Development Manager have also been appointed. Recruitment of a Programme Manager for the Opera House will begin shortly.

Wexford Festival Opera 2008 will run from October 16 November 2

www.wexfordfestivalopera.com

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Les Violons du Roy accueillent le violoncelliste britannique Steven Isserlis, mercredi 14 mai au Palais Montcalm

Steven Isserlis et Haydn

Bernard Labadie, chef dorchestre
Steven Isserlis, violoncelliste

Mercredi 14 mai, 20 h
Salle Raoul-Jobin, Palais Montcalm (Qubec)

Jeudi 15 mai, 20 h
Salle Pollack, Universit McGill (Montral)

Haydn Symphonie no 44 en mi mineur Funbre, Hob. I : 44
Haydn Concerto pour violoncelle no 1 en do majeur, Hob. VIIB : 1
Haydn Concerto pour violoncelle no 2 en r majeur, Hob. VIIB : 2

Qubec, le 28 avril 2008 Lors du dernier Grands Rendez-vous de la saison, Les Violons du Roy accueillent, pour la premire fois, le violoncelliste britannique Steven Isserlis, qui livrera une vision trs personnelle des deux magnifiques concertos pour violoncelle de Haydn. Bernard Labadie dirigera galement lune des plus dramatiques symphonies du compositeur, la Symphonie no 44 Funbre .

Par la seule prsence de Steven Isserlis, le monde de la musique et la musique elle-mme est infiniment plus riche. (Gramophone Magazine, Aot 2006)

Homme enthousiaste sil en est un, Steven Isserlis se dfinit la fois comme violoncelliste, auteur et explorateur musical ! En plus de donner des rcitals, des concerts de musique de chambre ou dtre soliste avec les ensembles les plus rputs sous la direction dminents chefs dorchestre, il aime fouiller les archives la recherche de chefs-duvre cachs afin de les faire dcouvrir au public. crivain ses heures, il a galement publi plusieurs livres pour jeune public sur les grands compositeurs.

Acclam dans le monde entier pour sa musicalit et sa prodigieuse technique, Isserlis est manifestement anim dune passion infinie pour la musique. Parions quil prendra un immense plaisir partager la scne avec Les Violons du Roy pour offrir deux des plus belles uvres concertantes pour le violoncelle, les deux concertos de Haydn.

Des chefs-duvre longtemps mconnus de Joseph Haydn
Les deux concertos pour violoncelle sont des uvres dune grande beaut quHaydn a crit lintention de deux violoncellistes virtuoses, successivement membres de lorchestre mis sa disposition par son employeur, le Prince Esterhzy. Pendant de nombreuses annes pourtant, lexistence du premier, le Concerto en do majeur, a t oublie jusqu ce que le manuscrit soit retrouv en 1961. Quant au second, il fut, tort, attribu jusquen 1951 son destinataire, le violoncelliste Anton Kraft. lgance, lyrisme, raffinement, sensibilit et exubrance sont tour tour runis dans ces deux uvres qui rservent au soliste de nombreux dialogues avec lorchestre et plusieurs pages de bravoure et de haute voltige.

Symphonie n 44 en mi mineur Funbre
La musique de la Symphonie no 44, tout comme plusieurs uvres crites au cours des annes 1770, vibre sur une corde plus passionne et dramatique. Ltiquette de funbre a t attribu la Symphonie no 44 parce quun jour, Haydn a exprim le souhait que son mouvement lent, le troisime de quatre mouvements, soit jou lors de ses funrailles. Chacun des mouvements renferme des mlodies contrastantes, et le dernier consiste en un mouvement perptuel des plus anims mettant profit tous les instruments de lorchestre.

La saison 2007-2008 Qubec est prsente par Hydro-Qubec, partenaire de saison Qubec. La Srie Mtropole est prsente par SSQ, Groupe financier, partenaire de saison Montral.

surveillerĶ
Le dvoilement de la saison montralaise 2008-2009 des Violons du Roy se tiendra le 15 mai prochain! Inscrivez dj cette date votre agenda.

Rservation

Qubec
Billetterie du Palais Montcalm
(418) 641-6040
ou sans frais 1-877-641-6040

Montral
Billetterie Articule
(514) 844-2172
ou sans frais 1-866-844-2172

www.violonsduroy.com

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 2:09 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

[Toronto] Sanctuary Song


Tapestry and Theatre Direct present, in partnership with Luminato, the world premiere of

Sanctuary Song

A new opera/theatre production for all ages

Composed by Abigail Richardson

Written by Marjorie Chan

Music Director: Wayne Strongman

Director: Lynda Hill

Cast: Xin Wang (soprano), Alvin Crawford (bass) with Sharmila Dey & Frank Cox OConnell

Orchestra: Michael Schulte (violin), Lizzie Lavado (piano), Ryan Scott (percussion)

Original Set & Costume Design by Kelly Wolf

Original Lighting Design by Andrea Lundy

Original Video Design by Luisa Quintavalle

Choreography by Viv Moore

Stage Manager: Kathryn Westoll

TORONTO, ONĶTapestry and Theatre Direct present the world premiere of Sanctuary Song in partnership with Luminato, Torontos Festival of Arts & Creativity. Sanctuary Song will have its world premiere June 7, 2008 at 1 p.m. at The Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs, running until June 14th.

Sometimes the most beautiful friendships come in unusual sizesĶ

A remarkable 22-year friendship between man and creature culminates in a promise of freedom fulfilled and a joyful reunion when,
after decades in captivity; an Asian elephant is brought to sanctuary.

Along the journey, her memories of childhood in the jungle, circus life and her solitary days in the zoo come to alive through the emotional power of opera, evocative dance and stunning design.

No more circuses. No more zoos.... You will be free!

Playwright Marjorie Chan (China Doll, A Nanking Winter) and composer Abigail Richardson (affiliate composer TSO, International Rostrum Prize, France), come together to tell a story from the point of view of a most unusual protagonist in what promises to be an unforgettable opera for all ages.

Under Tapestry and Theatre Directs artistic leaders Wayne Strongman (music director) and Lynda Hill (director), a stellar cast and multiple Dora award-winning creative team has been assembled to realize Sanctuary Song. Set & Costume Designer Kelly Wolf (The Wars, The Last Five Years) choreographer Viv Moore (Body Geometry), New York based video artist Luisa Quintavalle and acclaimed lighting designer Andrea Lundy (insomnia, Possible Worlds).

Bringing the moving friendship between an Asian elephant and her African American keeper to life are singers Xin Wang (soprano) and Alvin Crawford (bass) whose work has been seen on the international opera and Broadway stages. Filling out the cast in multiple roles that blend dance and drama are Toronto based theatre artists Sharmilla Dey and Frank Cox-OConnell.

Commissioned by Theatre Direct while Chan was Playwright in Residence in 2004, Sanctuary Song had its genesis in a partnership between the writing team sparked in Tapestrys Composer-Librettist Laboratory in 2003. This world premiere marks the second operatic project together since Mother Everest in 2004.

Sanctuary Song is the result of a dynamic collaboration between two award-winning Toronto companies committed to experimentation and risk-taking in their respective art forms, this new opera is an exciting intersection of the companies mandates, which focus on the development of new work.

This will be the first time that Tapestry, Theatre Direct and Luminato have collaborated on a project and as Tapestry Managing Artistic Director Wayne Strongman explains, We are thrilled to partner with Theatre Direct and Luminato for the world premiere of Sanctuary Song. Marjorie Chan and Abigail Richardson have woven a magical story with exquisite music that will sing and dance into your heart. Our stellar international cast and design team will take you on a journey of a lifetime and open up new vistas on the meaning of friendship in our time.

Artistic Director Lynda Hill goes on to explain, At Theatre Direct our work is motivated and inspired by young people. Sanctuary Song is testament to what is possible when we reach across the boundaries of our disciplines to honour the immensity of young peoples imaginations and their capacity to embrace sophisticated performance. This beautiful story is a gift to young people as well and those who remember being so!

A unique website created especially for the project is available for everyone, with resources for students and educators. www.sanctuarysong.ca

Story

Framed by the reluctant goodbye between Sydney and James, her African American keeper of 22 years, Sydney recounts in a scene that moves from song to a luscious dance section the destruction of her idyllic life in the jungles of Indonesia. When poachers abduct her she is wrenched from her dearest friend, Penny, who for Sydney is like a baby sister.

Her years performing in a circus come to a dramatic end when Sydney is injured in a fire on a boat off Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. After being sold to the Louisiana Purchase Zoo, Sydney resigns herself to solitary life until she meets James, with whom she develops a wonderful trust and communication that lasts for decades.

In a deeply moving final scene, Sydney is released into sanctuary and soon encounters another elephant. Tension and fear among the human witnesses is replaced by astonishment and joy when the two elephants embrace and Sydney is reunited with her childhood friend, Penny. As they wander off together into the hills of grass she had dreamt of for so long, James looks on and ahead vowing to remember his many years of friendship with Sydney.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PERFOMANCE DETAILS:

PREVIEW: June 6 at 7 p.m. (Public Preview)

DATES OF RUN:

Public Performances:

June 7 at 1 p.m. (World Premiere with Post-Show Reception)

June 8 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

June 11, 12 and 13 at 7 p.m.

June 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

School Performances:

June 10, 11 and 12 at 12:30 p.m.

TICKET PRICES:

Public Performances: $25 adults; $15 children & students; $15 arts & cultural workers; $70 family pack (4 people/must include one young person under the age of 14)

School Performances: $12 for all tickets

*Gala (June 7 at 1 p.m. w/ post-show reception): $150 Gala family pack (4 people/must include one young person under the age of 14) * performance-only tickets also available for June 7 premiere

VENUE: The Berkeley Street Theatre, Downstairs. 26 Berkeley St., Toronto, ON.

BOX OFFICE: 416-368-3110 / www.canstage.com or in person at The Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley Street. Also available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ca / 416-872-1111.

WEB PAGE: www.sanctuarysong.ca

Sanctuary Song was commissioned by Theatre Direct, with support from the Laidlaw Foundation and developed in partnership with Tapestry new opera works with support from the Canadian Opera Creation Program at Opera.ca.

About The Companies

Tapestry

Tapestry is dedicated to the creation, development and performance of new opera works through its unique and highly collaborative work process. Under the leadership of Managing Artistic Director Wayne Strongman, Tapestry engages the hearts and minds of artists and audiences on subjects relevant to contemporary society. The Tapestry process begins at the annual Composer-Librettist Laboratory where writers and composers are introduced to collaborative creation. Successful partnerships move on to create 15-minute operas for our biennial Opera to Go production and many to create full-length works. Our INside Opera Education Programme gives students the chance to discover their own stories and engage in the creation of new opera. Our new childrens opera, Elijahs Kite by Camyar Chai & James Rolfe has already toured to over 10,000 students across Ontario. Tapestry productions which have premiered to critical and popular acclaim include Nigredo Hotel by Ann-Marie MacDonald & Nic Gotham, Elsewhereless by Atom Egoyan & Rodney Sharman, Still the Night by Theresa Tova, Facing South by Don Hannah & Linda C. Smith and the Dora Award-winning Iron Road by composer Chan Ka Nin & librettist Mark Brownell. www.tapestrynewopera.com

Theatre Direct

For over 30 years, Theatre Direct has engaged young people through compelling, inventive and uncompromising professional theatre for young audiences. The company has produced and toured over 85 productions reaching more than two million young people across the country. In recognition of its outstanding work, Theatre Direct Canada has been the recipient of 22 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations, five Dora Awards, 10 Chalmers Canadian Play Awards and the Canada Council Theatre for Young Audiences Prize. Their focus on the balance of artistic and education excellence has made them recognized leaders in the field of theatre for young people. In the Fall of 2008, the company will launch community and education programming in its new studio theatre space at the Green Arts Barns at St. Clair and Christie in the heart of the St. Clair West Village. www.theatredirect.ca

Luminato learn more about Luminato at www.luminato.com

Cast

Xin Wang (soprano) - Sydney A native of Mainland China, Canadian Soprano Xin Wang is an active performer of contemporary music. She has participated in workshops and performed lead roles in Canadian contemporary operas and chamber pieces produced by such companies as Tapestry, Soundstreams Canada, Queen Of Puddings Music Theatre and Continuum.

Xin has had the privilege of working with Canadian and International Composers including Melissa Hui, Christopher Butterfield, Jacques Bank, Karin Rehnqvist, Chan Ka Nin, James Rolfe, Ana Sokolovic and Steve Reich, among others.

Ms Wangs 2007-2008 highlights include the performance of Puksanger by Karin Rehnqvist, Daniel Variation by Steve Reich, John Clares Invitation to Eternity set by Jacques Bank, Jacques Preverts Contes pour enfants pas sages set by Christopher Butterfield and the first Cree opera The Journey by Melissa Hui. She is thrilled to be part of the world premiere of Sanctuary Song.

Alvin Crawford (bass) James Alvin Crawford hails from Toronto, Canada and is thrilled to be performing at home!

Operatic roles include Sarastro in Die Zauberflte (Vienna Volksoper), Der Lauschprecher in Der Kaiser von Atlantis, James Conlon conductor (New World Symphony, Los Angeles Symphony, Spoleto Music Festival, Italy), Alvise in La Gioconda, Il Grande Inquisitor in Don Carlos (Staatstheater Kassel), Pistola in Fastaff, Sourin in Pique Dame (Canadian Opera Company), The Ghost in Hamlet (Opera Theatre of St. Louis).

On Broadway, he has performed as Sam Cooke in the Buddy Holly Story, John in Miss Saigon, The Lion in Candide and Mufasa in The Lion King. Mr. Crawford has been seen on Canadian and American television and was in MGM feature film It Runs in the Family starring Michael and Kirk Douglas. Alvin Crawford is a graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center.

Sharmila Dey (actor) Penny / Girl - Sharmila is extremely happy to be a part of Sanctuary Song. Most recently she toured a production of Wrecked with Roseneath Theatre through the U.S. and across Ontario. Other theatre credits include Danny King of the Basement (Roseneath Theatre), Beneath The Banyan Tree (Sampradaya Dance Creations/Theatre Direct), Beggar Boy (Montreal Youtheatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare in the Rough) and The Tempest (Resurgence Theatre). She also appears in film and television. Sharmila is a graduate of the George Brown Theatre Program and was born, raised and resides in Toronto.

Frank Cox-OConnell (actor) Hunter, Ringmaster, Worker Frank Cox-OConnell is an actor, musician and theatre maker living in Toronto. As a founding member of One Reed Theatre he created and performed Nor The Cavaliers Who Come With Us (Spotlight Award for performance, SummerWorks 2006) and is creating (Never Underestimate) The Power with director Paul Thompson for SummerWorks 2008. He has performed regularly with Small Wooden Shoe with whom he is developing Dedicated To The Revolution for Buddies in Bad Times 08/09 season. Other acting credits include The Drawer Boy (Theatre Passe Muraille), Bach at Liepzig (Theatre Athena) and The Demonstartion (Theatre Direct). Frank is a graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada.

The Creative Team

Abigail Richardson (Composer) Abigail Richardson was born in Oxford, England and moved to Canada as a child. Ironically, she was diagnosed completely and incurably deaf at the age of five. Upon moving to Canada, her hearing was fully intact within months. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Calgary and her Masters and Doctorate degrees from the University of Toronto. Her music has been played at the Festival Prsences of Paris, Winnipeg New Music Festival, Newfoundland Sound Symposium, Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Festival of the Sound, among others. Abigail won the first Karen Kieser Prize for Canadian music and the Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region Award. Most significantly, she was awarded the top prize for composers under 30 at the prestigious International Rostrum of Composers in Paris. Her music has been broadcast in 35 countries. She has been commissioned by such groups as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Radio France, Tapestry, New Music Concerts (for her husband, violinist Michael Schulte), Theatre Direct, Southern Ontario Chamber Music Institute, Talisker Players, Festival Winds, among others. Abigail is the affiliate composer with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Marjorie Chan (Librettist) Marjories debut as a playwright was the acclaimed drama China Doll (Nightwood Theatre) which was nominated for several Dora Mavor Moore Awards, including Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Production and was also nominated for a Governor Generals Literary Award. It was also performed in Hong Kong as a part of Festival Canada Hong Kong. Marjorie wrote the libretto for the short opera Mother Everest for Opera To Go (Tapestry New Opera Works) which was recorded and aired on CBC Radio. For the 60th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Marjorie, along with award-winning playwright Damien Atkins, adapted Hisashi Inoues celebrated play In the garden, two suns from Roger Pulvers translation. It was performed at the Japan Foundation, York University, and the University of Toronto as well as at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.


Wayne Strongman (Music Director) One of Canadas most distinguished music directors, Wayne Strongman is a champion of Canadian writers and composers. As Managing Artistic Director of Tapestry new opera works, he has commissioned and premiered over 30 new Canadian operas including the Cantonese-English Iron Road in 2001 (Brownell/Chan), Facing South (Hannah/Smith), The Shadow (Poch-Goldin/Daniel) and Nigredo Hotel (MacDonald/Gotham) which is the most frequently produced opera in Canadian history. In 2006 he premiered Elijahs Kite (Chai/Rolfe) in New York City in collaboration with the Manhattan School of Music. Music Director/Dramaturge of Tapestrys Composer-Librettist Laboratory, Mr. Strongman has created a truly collaborative environment for an international roster of composers and writers. His commitment to a contemporary practice within the operatic art form has made Strongman a mentor to many Canadian singers. In 2007 he established the Tapestry New Work Studio Company as a performing resource for the new work creation process which has become Tapestrys unique calling. In 2008, in addition to the seven new short operas for Opera to Go which is part of Harbourfront Centres World Stage he will premiere Sanctuary Song (Chan/Richardson) for Torontos Luminato Festival. Mr. Strongman sits on the Ontario Region and National Council of the Canadian Music Centre and also volunteers as choral conductor for the Regent Park School of Music.

Lynda Hill (Director) Lynda is in her seventh season as the Artistic Director of Theatre Direct. Over her time at the company she has directed Beneath the Banyan Tree by Emil Sher, Alphonse by Wajdi Mouawad, The Phoenix Rides a Skateboard by Kate Rigg, Andrews Tree by Martha Brooks, and I Met a Bully on the Hill by Martha Brooks and Maureen Hunter. She has guided the commissioning and development of all new work at Theatre Direct since 2002 including the Dora Award-winning inter-disciplinary work And, By The Way MissĶ. created by the Urge Collective, The Demonstration (The Democracy Project), and The Babysitter by Eric Woolfe. As an arts educator, Lynda has taught young people and youth for over 15 years and has led the summer opera program for children at the Canadian Opera Company for the past six years. Before her appointment to Theatre Direct, Lynda worked extensively as a director and dramaturge and conceived and led new approaches to new play development at Cahoots Theatre Projects and Nightwood Theatre where she was the co-Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director, respectively. In 1995, Lynda was awarded a fellowship at the respected Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart where she created a number of inter-disciplinary works including, NO Place Like Home with Cary Gayler, which traveled to Podewil in Berlin; and Dark Forest presented at the Music Gallery, Toronto.

Viv Moore (Choreographer) Viv Moore has been choreographing and performing (dancing and acting) both collaboratively and as a solo artist, in dance, theatre, film and video in England, Sweden, Australia and Canada since 1979. Viv has also choreographed musicals and films and has taught movement for many years. Currently she teaches dance and movement at Humber College (Film & TV Programme). Viv co-founded Remote Control with Dave Wilson in 1979 and The Illuminations with Wilson and Pam Johnson in 1990 (Toronto). Viv has danced in works by Dave Wilson, Pam Johnson, Allen Kaeja, Holly Small, Darcey Callison and Denise Fujiwara. Her solo work is an eclectic mix of influences of theatre, dance, English Music Hall and Butoh. She received a Harold (1998-99) and the Paula Citron fFIDA Award (1999) for choreography and performance of Bogie Woman, and was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Body Geometry, the 7th Angel (2002).

Kelly Wolf (Original Set & Costume Designer) Kelly has designed sets and costumes for many Canadian theatre companies and her work spans a variety of styles and periods. For Theatre Direct Canada, Kelly has designed I Met a Bully on the Hill (2003) and Andrews Tree (2002), both of which were nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production in the Theatre for Young Audiences category. Notable productions include The Last Five Years (CanStage), The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Stratford Festival), Edwin Drood, John Bulls Other Island, The Apple Cart, S.S. Tenacity (Shaw Festival), Tons of Money, Fiddler on the Roof (Drayton Entertainment) Blithe Spirit (Theatre Aquarius), and The Domino Heart (Tarragon Theatre). She has also designed and taught at several theatre schools - Ryerson, Humber and Brock as well as for the Mountview Theatre School in London, England. Kelly is a graduate of York University, Toronto and Central Saint Martins College in England.

Andrea Lundy (Original Lighting Designer) Andrea is a Toronto-based award-winning lighting designer. She has been nominated for 17 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, winning six times for Stories from the Rains of Love and Death, Russell Hill, The Attic, The Pearls and Three Fine Girls, Possible Worlds, insomnia, and Oedipus. She has spent four seasons at the Shaw Festival and has worked extensively with Tarragon Theatre, LKTYP, Soulpepper Theatre, CanStage Necessary Angel Theatre Company, Factory Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Neptune Theatre and many other Canadian companies. She is the Production Designer and Production Manager for the Dora Awards as well as the Tour and Production Manager for the Necessary Angel Theatre Company.

Luisa Quintavalle (Original Video Design) Luisa is a former fellow of the respected Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany and is now based in New York. This current collaboration emerged from Theatre Directs recent project with Solitude entitled The Carpet. Her award-winning video and film installations have brought her international recognition.

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[Montral] L'OSJM PRSENTE SES MEILLEURS MUSICIENS SON CONCERT DES SOLISTES

Le samedi 10 mai, 2008, Salle Claude-Champagne de la facult de musique de l'Universit de Montral
(220, avenue Vincent d'Indy, mtro douard-Montpetit)

Montral, le 28 avril 2008 Les meilleurs musiciens de l'Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Montral seront mis en vedette le samedi 10 avril l'occasion du Concert des solistes, sous la baguette du chef Louis Lavigueur. Une excellente occasion de dcouvrir la relve de nos orchestres symphoniques.

Batrice Laplante, cor anglais, et le corniste Yannick Gagn ont t choisis la suite d'auditions en fvrier dernier parmi les musiciens de l'Orchestre.

Au programme du concert : Les Hbrides, Ouverture en si mineur opus 26 de Flix Mendelssohn, le Concertino en sol majeur pour cor anglais et orchestre de Gaetano Donizetti, le Concerto pour cor de Reinhold Glire ainsi que la Symphonie en r mineur de Csar Franck.

Batrice Laplante Batrice Laplante a commenc ses tudes en hautbois en 2001 au Conservatoire de Qubec avec Philippe Magnan. Elle termine actuellement son baccalaurat au Conservatoire de Montral dans la classe de Lise Beauchamp. En 2005 et 2007, elle a remport un premier prix au Concours de musique du Canada et particip, pendant l't 2006, une tourne en Europe et en Amrique du Sud avec l'Orchestre des jeunes des Amriques, notamment sous la direction de Kent Nagano. En 2007, membre de l'Orchestre national des jeunes du Canada, elle se produit comme soliste avec l'Orchestre symphonique de Lvis. Batrice Laplante est galement professeur de hautbois au Collge Notre-Dame de Montral. l'automne 2008, elle se perfectionnera auprs d'ric Speller, Namur, en Belgique.

Yannick Gagn - Yannick Gagn a entam ses tudes musicales en 2003 avec Marjolaine Goulet. En 2005, il entrait au Conservatoire de Montral o il tudie encore dans la classe de John Milner. Parmi ses expriences, on compte ses participations aux Matines Jeunesse de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montral de 2004 et 2005, et sa participation l'dition 2007 de l'Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne. Cet t, Yannick Gagn participera au Programme des jeunes artistes du Centre national des Arts, Ottawa, avec Lawrence Vine. En 2009, il se joindra l'Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne dans le cadre d'une tourne en Allemagne et en Autriche et participera l'dition 2008-2009 de l'Orchestre mondial des Jeunesses Musicales.

L'OSJM L'Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Montral (OSJM) runit une soixantaine d'instrumentistes gs de moins de 25 ans, admis aprs audition. Il donne la relve de la musique classique l'occasion de se produire dans un orchestre symphonique et propose des concerts accessibles toutes les bourses. L'OSJM a effectu plusieurs tournes au Qubec, en Ontario, en Alberta, en cosse, en Grce et en France. Il compte son actif plusieurs disques, dont la Symphonie no 3 avec orgue de Camille Saint-Sans, Le lac des cygnes et Casse-noisettes de Tchakovski et la Symphonie no 5 de Gustav Mahler.

Louis Lavigueur - Au pupitre de l'Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Montral depuis plus de vingt ans, le chef d'orchestre Louis Lavigueur est galement chef-adjoint et coordonnateur de l'Orchestre du Conservatoire de musique de Montral depuis 1980, chef de l'Orchestre de Pierre-Laporte depuis 1985 et de l'Ensemble Sinfonia de Montral depuis 2001. Pdagogue recherch, Louis Lavigueur a enseign aux universits de Montral, Laval et McGill, ainsi qu'au Conservatoire de musique de Montral o il est toujours actif. Il a sign plusieurs disques de compositeurs qubcois avec l'Orchestre Mtropolitain, ainsi que des uvres de Saint-Sans et Tchakovski avec l'OSJM, qu'il a men en tourne en Grce et en France.

billets en vente ds maintenant : 20 $ (rguliers); 10 $ (tudiants et ans)

Billetterie et renseignements : (514) 388-7719 ou par courriel osjmontreal@gmail.com

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La soprano Karine Michon, soliste-invite du Chur de la montagne


Beloeil, 28 avril 2008 - La soprano Karine Michon, native de Saint-Hyacinthe, accompagnera le Choeur de la montagne lors du concert MOMENTS SACRS les 24 et 25 mai Beloeil.


Karine dcouvre tt sa passion pour la musique. Aprs s'y tre initie par la flte bec et le piano, elle entreprend ses tudes la Concentration musique de la Polyvalente Ozias-Leduc de Mont-Saint-Hilaire. Dtentrice d'un Baccalaurat en chant de l'Universit McGill et d'une Matrise en interprtation de l'Universit de Montral, Karine Michon se perfectionne auprs de Mme Lyne Fortin. Karine se produit sur les ondes de Radio-Canada et est boursire du concours Les Journes de la Musique Franaise. Parmi ses rles l'opra, on compte Nadia, le rle-titre de La Veuve Joyeuse, Belinda dans Didon et ne, Fiorella dans Les Brigands, Gabrielle dans La Vie Parisienne, les rles principaux dans Chanson Gitane et La Fille du Tambour-Major en plus d'tre l'hrone de Romo et Juliette de Gounod.

En 2004 et 2006, Karine fut slectionne parmi plus de 100 concurrents au Concours Jeune Ambassadeur Lyrique. En 2005, elle prend part des stages l'Acadmie Internationale de la Roche d'Hys en France et aux trente-huitime Master classes musicaux internationaux Brno en Rpublique Tchque et est finaliste au Concours International de musique tchque et slovaque de Montral en 2005.

Elle effectue en 2006 en France une tourne d'auditions professionnelles et interprte la Comtesse Almaviva (Nozze di Figaro) Urbania en Italie, Micaela (Carmen) l'Opra de Brasov, Roumanie, et Rosalinde dans la Chauve-Souris avec l'Opra Bouffe du Qubec. En 2007, elle reprend le rle de Marie des Mousquetaires au Couvent avec l'Opra Bouffe du Qubec aprs avoir interprt les rles de Lysandre et de Germaine dans la version concert du Mdaillon de Michel Mass. Elle sera Saffi dans Le Baron Tzigane de Strauss dans la production du Thtre Lyrique de la Montrgie en mai 2008.

Le concert MOMENTS SACRS regroupera Regina coeli, KV 127 de Mozart, Wer nur den lieben Gott lt walten de Mendelssohn et Laudate pueri (psaume 112) de Handel sera prsent le 24 mai 20 heures et le 25 mai 14h30 l'glise Saint-Matthieu, 1014, rue Richelieu Beloeil. Les laurats du Concours de musique assureront la premire partie : le 24 mai, les pianistes Lysandre Mnard (14 ans, 1er prix catgorie 7 14 ans et Aude St-Pierre (19 ans, 1er prix catgorie 15 21 ans) joueront le 24 mai tandis que le Trio Ouater (violon, violoncelle et piano) et le grand laurat Thierry Bgin-Lamontagne, guitariste de 21 ans, joueront le 25 mai. Pour renseignements www.choeurdelamontagne.com ou 514.816.6577.

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Friday, April 25, 2008

Ondine and Curtis Institute of Music to record world premiere recording of Hindemith left-hand piano work

Featuring pianist Leon Fleisher and Christoph Eschenbach conducting the Curtis Symphony Orchestra; to be released in spring 2009

(Helsinki, Finland, & New York, NY) Ondine proudly announces the world premire recording of a work by Paul Hindemith, scheduled for release in spring 2009. The Klaviermusik mit Orchester op. 29 for piano left hand and orchestra, which Hindemith wrote in 1923 for Paul Wittgenstein, was only discovered in 2002 and had an acclaimed 2004 world premire in Berlin with Leon Fleisher as soloist. Fleisher will also perform on April 27th during a concert by the Curtis Symphony Orchestra and Christoph Eschenbach at Philadelphia's Verizon Hall, where the piece will be recorded together with Dvork's Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World").

The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and Ondine will collaborate in the production and distribution of the recording: Curtis will record, edit, and produce, while Ondine will manufacture and distribute the final product to an international market. Executive producer of the recording will be Kevin Kleinmann, formerly vice president of PolyGram/Universal Classics.

Reijo Kiilunen, founder and managing director of Ondine, said, "We're happy that our fruitful relationship with Christoph Eschenbach is expanding to include his work with Curtis. This project not only gives us the opportunity to add the never before recorded Hindemith work to the Ondine catalogue, but it will be the first time a commercial recording featuring the Curtis Symphony Orchestra has been released in over a decade."

Curtis President Roberto Daz said, "We are delighted to have the opportunity to share the extraordinary artistry of Curtis students with a worldwide audience. Over the past few years, Christoph Eschenbach has led the Curtis Symphony Orchestra in many outstanding performances, and this project will capture their unique relationship on record."

The Ondine catalogue already includes many recordings by Christoph Eschenbach. "I'm very pleased to be a part of another recording project with Ondine," he said. "It's a joy to conduct the remarkable young musicians in the Curtis orchestra, and I'm particularly looking forward to leading the first-ever commercial recording of the Hindemith work with the wonderful soloist who premiered it, Leon Fleisher."

For over twenty years, Ondine has remained true to its founding principle: uncompromising devotion to excellence in recorded music. The label's mission is to support creative efforts in the field of contemporary music and to showcase performances by top artists which bring a new dimension to established works of the classical repertoire. An exceptional case in the world of independent labels, Ondine has increasingly expanded its recorded repertoire from chamber to orchestral music and opera. Strong partnerships have linked Ondine to the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic, and Tapiola Sinfonietta, in addition to the Orchestre de Paris and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Ondine recordings feature conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leif Segerstam, Sakari Oramo, John Storgrds, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Mikko Franck, and Oliver Knussen.

The Curtis Symphony Orchestra, called "an orchestra that any city would be lucky to have as its professional ensemble" (The Philadelphia Inquirer), was last featured on a commercial recording in 1995, when EMI Classics released a disc of works by Vaughan Williams conducted by Andr Previn. The orchestra performs a three-concert season in Philadelphia's Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, as well as programs elsewhere in the region and occasionally at Carnegie Hall. Recent visiting conductors include Charles Dutoit, Alan Gilbert, Simon Rattle, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya. This real-world training has enabled Curtis alumni to assume prominent positions in major orchestras across the United States, Canada, and abroad. Seventeen percent of the principal chairs in America's top twenty-five orchestras are held by Curtis-trained musicians.

The Curtis Institute of Music trains exceptionally gifted young musicians for careers as performing artists on the highest professional level. One of the world's leading music schools, Curtis provides full-tuition scholarships to all of its 162 students, ensuring that admissions are based solely on artistic promise. A Curtis education is uniquely tailored to the individual student, with personalized attention from a celebrated faculty and unusually frequent performance opportunities. This distinctive "learn by doing" approach to musical training has produced an impressive number of notable artists, from such legends as Leonard Bernstein and Samuel Barber to current stars Juan Diego Flrez, Alan Gilbert, Hilary Hahn, Jennifer Higdon, and Lang Lang.

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NACO, May 7-8: Helmuth Rilling leads NAC Orchestra in Mendelssohn's Elijah


Ottawa, Canada Helmuth Rilling will lead the National Arts Centre Orchestra, four soloists and three choirs totaling 150 singers in Mendelssohns mighty oratorio Elijah drama on a truly Biblical scale in Ovation Series concerts on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8 at 20:00 in the NACs Southam Hall. It is only the second time in the NAC Orchestras history that it has presented the massive work. It will be performed in German with surtitles in English and French.

There will be Musically Speaking post-concert Talkbacks offered on Southam Hall stage after both concerts with Maestro Helmuth Rilling and chorus master Duain Wolfe.

Elijah remains one of the crowning achievements of the choral literature and is, along with Handels Messiah and Haydns Creation, one of the three most popular oratorios of all time. Garnering deafening applause and calls for encores at its premiere in 1846, the nearly operatic conception of Elijah depicts the struggle of the larger-than-life prophet against false gods and the fiery Jezebel, and amazingly evokes drought, rainstorms and earthquakes, as well as Gods display of power in a column of fire and Elijahs ascent to heaven in a chariot. I picture Elijah, wrote Mendelssohn as a grand and mighty prophet of a kind we would do well to have in our own day powerful, zealous, but also harsh and angry and saturnine; a striking contrast to the court sycophants and the rabble.

Canadian bass Nathan Berg who last performed here in the Verdi Requiem in 2006 and under the direction of Helmuth Rilling in Haydns Creation in 2004 sings the role of the prophet Elijah. American soprano Elizabeth Keusch makes her NAC Orchestra debut as the Widow and an Angel originally written for the famous Swedish Nightingale Jenny Lind. Romanian mezzo-soprano Roxana Constantinescu, also making her NACO debut, is Jezebel and an Angel; and American tenor James Taylor, who performed with Rilling and Berg in Haydns Creation as well as the 2006 presentation of Bachs B-minor Mass, portrays Obadiah and Ahab. The Cantata Singers of Ottawa (Michael Zaugg, director), the Ottawa Choral Society (Matthew Larkin, director) and members of the Ottawa Bach Choir (Lisette Canton) combine for a 150-voice chorus prepared by Duain Wolfe with assistance from Laurence Ewashko.

Stuttgart-born Helmuth Rilling is active as a conductor, pedagogue, and an ambassador for the music of J. S. Bach worldwide. He founded the Gchinger Kantorei in 1954 and 11 years later founded the Bach Collegium Stuttgart. In addition to Bach, he has been a fervent advocate of neglected romantic choral music as well as commissioning and performing contemporary choral music. With his ensembles in Stuttgart or as a guest conductor, Maestro Rilling is active on the international concert podium, performing regularly throughout Europe, US, and Canada. As a testament to his inexhaustible activity are hundreds of CD, radio and TV recordings. He was awarded the UNESCO International Music Prize in 1994 and won a coveted Grammy Award in 2000 for his recording of Krzystof Pendereckis Credo.

Tickets for these Ovation Series concerts on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8 at 20:00 are on sale now at $19.00, $29.00, $49.00, $59.00, $69.00 with box seats at $83.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NACs website at www.nac-cna.ca.

Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card. Same-day Live Rush tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students (aged 13 to 29) are $10 at the NAC Box Office between 14:00 and 18:00 on the day of performance only, upon presentation of a valid Live Rush card.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 613-947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.

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[Montreal] CinemaSpace at The Segal Centre for Performing Arts announces busy start to Spring

Canadian premiere of Anne and the Reverend (Apr. 30/May 1); Ralph Benmergui to appear live, May 3

April, 2008 As a spring awakening returns to Montreal after a record setting winter, so too is the new CinemaSpace at the Segal Centre coming to life with an invigorating schedule of films that includes both the Canadian premiere of Anne and the Reverend and an appearance by Ralph Benmergui to promote his new documentary television series, My Israel.

We got started at CinemaSpace this winter with a successful collaboration with Les Rendez-vous du cinma Qubcois and the Montreal Human Rights Film Festival and then we got very busy watching a lot of new material to pick what we felt would truly inspire Montrealers to come to the Centre and our brand new CinemaSpace in the spring. says CinemaSpace director Ezra Soiferman. Weve got wonderful films and events to share.

Indeed, the early spring schedule is highlighted by the screening of a film that could be called the next Paper Clips: Anne and the Reverend (April 30th, May1st). A reverend from Hiroshima who speaks Hebrew fluentlyĶ A museum about the Shoah lost in the middle of the Japanese countrysideĶ Anne and the Reverend is a documentary about Makoto Otsuka, a reverend from Hiroshima, who met Anne Frank's father Otto Frank 30 years ago and ever since then has shared the memory of the Holocaust to Japanese children. Through the portrayal of this man, both funny and moving, Anne and the Reverend presents an unexpected approach to the Shoah and an unknown side of Japan. Filmmaker Francois Uzan, flying in from France, will be present for a post film Q&A on both nights. This is the Canadian premiere of Anne and the Reverend.

I'm very excited to share my film with the audience: introducing people to Reverend Otsuka and his amazing work is always a thrill, said Uzan. Actually, when I first met him I promised I'd do my best to let as many people as possible know about his museum about Anne Frank and whenever I screen "Anne and the Reverend", I feel like I'm keeping this promise.

On Saturday, May 3rd, journalist Ralph Benmergui offers a sneak peek at video clips from his new TV series and shares stories of his recent experiences in Israel. Ralph Benmergui: My Israel, coming to VisionTV on May 5, 6 and 7, is a new, five-part documentary series that looks at the past, present and future of Israel through the eyes of one of Canadas most renowned journalists. The series brings Ralph, a Moroccan-Canadian Jew, face to face with Israelis from every stratum of society, and shows the Holy Land in ways that few Canadians have been privileged to experience. Broadcast in honour of Israels 60th anniversary, the program is a heartfelt exploration of belief and values, ethnicity and identity, conflict and reconciliation in a country coming of age in the 21st Century.

"I'm very excited about this series and feel that in true Jewish style I've given everyone on this journey a hard time, Benmergui quipped. We as Canadians need to talk about Judaism, Israel, and Ashkenazi/Sephardic dialogue. I can't wait to see you all."

Also coming up at CinemaSpace are:

Esti Mayer: Artist. A live lecture on The Holocaust Suite (May 1st at 7pm; Entry is free. Must RSVP for tickets 514-739-7944)

Fundraiser screening of award-winning shorts by students from Tel Aviv University (May 4th, 7:30PM, Must RSVP to Cdn Friends of Tel Aviv U. at 514-344-3417).

S&M: Short and Male - Sneak Preview of Howard Goldbergs new documentary about short men Tuesday, May 6th, 7pm and 9pm

Six Days in June Doc produced by Ina Fichman about 1947 Israeli Six Day War. Thursday, May 8th at 8:30PM.

Baghdad Twist NFB documentary by Joe Balass about his mothers reminiscences of growing up Jewish in Iraq. May 14th and 15th, 7pm.

Please see the attached full schedule for dates and times, address and more information.

About CinemaSpace:

CinemaSpace is the Segal Centres brand new state-of-the-art screening room. Featuring surround-sound, a high definition projector and 77 plush cinema seats covered in hemp eco-fabric, CinemaSpace is Montreal's brand new boutique film venue. It will host independent film screenings, collaborations with existing film festivals, and much more.

Ben Gonshor

Director, Marketing and Communications

bgonshor@segalcentre.org

www.segalcentre.org

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[Toronto] Final line-up for Stars of the 21st Century Koffler Centre Dance Gala

For Immediate Release: April 23, 2008
LISTINGS UPDATE

Artists from American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey Ballet
Join Star-Studded Line-up at the
KOFFLER CENTRE OF THE ARTS GALA
STARS OF THE 21st CENTURY
Tickets are Selling Fast!
Sunday, May 4, 2008 * Toronto Centre for the Arts


Veronika Part, American Ballet Theatre and Fabrice Calmels, Joffrey Ballet, will join the cast of international dance stars for the 7th annual KOFFLER CENTRE OF THE ARTS GALA, STARS OF THE 21st CENTURY, Sunday, May 4 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Part and Calmels will perform Swan Lake White Adagio and Gerald Arpino's Light Rain.

Part and Calmels are replacing the Berlin State Opera Ballet's Ronald Savkovic and Shoko Nakamura, who are unable to appear at the gala this year.

The full company consists of:
Veronika Part, American Ballet Theatre and Fabrice Calmels, Joffrey Ballet
Nina Gershman and Alexander Utkin, The Israel Ballet
Ana Mara Lpez and Francisco Lorenzo, Compaa Nacional de Danza de Espaa
Miki Hamanaka, Lithuania National Opera Ballet and Daniil Simkin, Vienna State Opera Ballet
Yevgenia Obraztsova, Kirov Ballet and Artem Pykhachov, Mikhailovsky Ballet
Heather Ogden, Nehemiah Kish and Zdenek Konvalina, National Ballet of Canada

The Koffler Centre of the Arts has a history of being an innovative and inclusive centre for the creation and presentation of art and culture. Established in 1977 to enrich the cultural life of Toronto through arts education and exhibitions, the Koffler Centre has grown to reach thousands of people a year through a rich mix of classes in dance, music, and visual arts; public programs such as concerts with the Koffler Chamber Orchestra, the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Awards and the Jewish Book Fair, Rikkudiya Israeli Dance Festival; and cutting-edge, critically-acclaimed exhibitions at the Koffler Gallery.
KOFFLER CENTRE OF THE ARTS GALA
STARS OF THE 21st CENTURY
A Solomon Tencer Production o Nadia Veselova-Tencer Artistic Director
Sunday May 4th, 2008, 8pm
The Toronto Centre For The Arts, 5040 Yonge Street, Toronto
Tickets range from $60-$165 and are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling 416-872-1111
For Gala Patron Tickets (includes show, VIP reception, exclusive dinner) or to be a Gala Sponsor,
contact Tobi Liederman at 416.636.1880 X271 or events@kofflerarts.org
For more information visit www.kofflercentre.com

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 1:36 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

The Musical Instrument Museum Acquires Instrument Collection

Contact:

Melissa Parsoff, Ruder Finn A&CC

212-593-5889; parsoffm@ruderfinn.com

The Musical Instrument Museum Acquires One of the Largest Instrument Collections in the United States

Renowned Collection from the Kenneth G. Fiske Museum

at The Claremont Colleges Features More Than 1,200 Musical Instruments

Phoenix, April 21, 2008 The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) today announced that it will acquire a historically significant collection of musical instruments from Claremont University Consortium's Kenneth G. Fiske Museum at The Claremont Colleges in California. The first major acquisition to enter MIM's collection since the museum's groundbreaking ceremony in Phoenix in February 2008, the Fiske Collection includes more than 1,200 American, European and world instruments dating from the 17th through the 20th centuries.

The Fiske collection will greatly enhance the depth and breadth of MIM's collection, which will feature instruments from every country in the world. Many instruments joining the MIM collection have a special significance due to their fine construction, reputation of their makers, provenance or connection to famous performers. A large number of these newly acquired instruments will be on display in the museum's galleries when MIM opens in 2010.

"This is a landmark acquisition for MIM, and I want to thank Claremont University Consortium and Claremont Colleges for making this possible," said Bill DeWalt, MIM President and Director. "We are delighted that these beautiful and significant objects will join our permanent collection, enhancing MIM's commitment to showcase spectacular examples of our diverse musical heritage."

The Fiske Museum collection began with a brass collection purchased in 1954, and was on display at the Bridges Auditorium in Claremont from 1977-1997, and then open by appointment until 2006. The instruments also served as a teaching resource for the colleges' professors and students. In November 2006, the museum closed and since that time the collection has not been accessible to the general public.

"We are very excited for our collection to be acquired by MIM, the first truly global museum of its kind," said Robert Walton, Chief Executive Officer, Claremont University Consortium. "It is very important to Claremont Colleges that these instruments be available for the benefit and enjoyment of audiences from around the United States and beyond."

The Collection

Brass instruments represent the most comprehensive element of the Fiske Collection and the centerpiece is a set of seven over-the-shoulder brasses by Hall & Quinby of Boston (1872), the only known complete set of these types of Civil War-period instruments. The collection also features examples of most valve types invented during the 19th century and several outstanding examples by European and American makers are represented. Other highlights include 19th-century clock-spring slide trumpets by Ulyate, London (c. 1830); a slide trumpet made for the famous English player John Distin (c. 1833); a keyed trumpet by Antonio Apparuti, Modena (c. 1835), a rarity as the only example in the United States; an expertly designed disc valve cornet by J. A. Kohler, London (c. 1853); and two double-piston valve B-flat trumpets by Graves & Co., Worcester, Massachusetts (c. 1845).

The collection also includes several important examples of woodwind instruments from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as an extremely rare, curved English horn by August Grenser, Dresden (c. 1760); a finely preserved C clarinet by John Astor of London (c. 1785); a unique C clarinet by Naust of Paris (c. 1780); an oboe by Lehnhold of Dresden (c. 1800); a flute by F.G. A. Kirst of Potsdam (c. 1790); a beautifully-designed basset horn by Stengel (c. 1870); a unique prototype alto saxello by H. N. White, Cincinnati (c. 1925); and an early alto sax by Conn, Elkhart, Indiana (c. 1888).

String instruments in the collection include five 18th century violas d'amore, including a notable instrument by Johann Andreas Doerffel of Klingenthal (c. 1750). A fine treble viol by the noted maker Leandro Bisiach, Milan (c. 1895), is one of two known reproductions of a 16th century viol. Other notable string instruments include a rare mandolin by Joanies Vinnacia of Naples (1763); a mandora of the Presbler School in Milan (1785); and a hammer dulcimer (ca. 1877) by James A. MacKenzie of Minneapolis.

The keyboard collection includes one of the only surviving "semi-grand" pianos, and one of the earliest surviving American-made grand pianos, by Jonas Chickering, Boston (1850). Other keyboards of note are a Grand piano (ca. 1835) by Jean-Henri Pape of Paris with unique down-striking action, and a 3-manual, 5-octave reed organ [ca. 1889] by Mason & Hamlin of Boston.

The world instrument portion of the collection includes a large group of beautifully made and handsomely decorated Tibetan dung-chen (trumpets). Many traditional wind, string and percussion instruments from China, Japan, Africa, Indonesia and South America are an important part of the collection, as well, including a Magindanao kulintang (gong-chime ensemble) from the Philippines; several fine examples of suona (oboe) from China; 2 shofar (ram's horn) from Israel; an early 20th-century Spanish laud; and large, wooden side blown trumpets from central Africa.

About MIM

Scheduled to open in early 2010 in north Phoenix, The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) will celebrate the similarities and differences of the world's cultures as expressed through musica language common to us all. Featuring musical instruments from every country in the world, MIM will pay homage to the history and diversity of instruments and introduce museum guests to their varied and unique sounds. MIM will be an engaging, entertaining and informative experience, in which the uninitiated and the knowledgeable, the young and the old will feel welcome.

MIM will exhibit approximately 3,000 instruments, from the exquisite heirlooms of royal courts to handcrafted pieces passed down through humble generations, from masterpieces crafted by skilled artisans for performances heard by millions to unique instruments produced for the enjoyment of individuals. Wireless headsets and high-resolution video screens will allow visitors to see these instruments, hear their sounds, and observe them being played in their original settings. Other areas of the museum will provide opportunities for visitors to play selected instruments and see how they are made.

About the Claremont University Consortium

Claremont University Consortium (CUC) is the central coordinating institution of The Claremont Colleges. As such, CUC provides common services for the internationally renowned cluster of two graduate and five undergraduate colleges serving more than 6,000 students. The consortium offers the expansive physical facilities and wide selection of courses, faculty, student services and extracurricular activities of a university, and the personalized education of small private colleges. The Consortium includes Pomona College (established in 1887), Claremont Graduate University (1925), Scripps College (1926), Claremont McKenna College (1946), Harvey Mudd College (1955), Pitzer College (1963), and the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Science (1997) and Claremont University Consortium (1925).

For more information about MIM, please visit www.themim.org.


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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:31 AM | 1 Comments Links to this post

Spectacles L'Intendant

Rservations:

692-6666

1-888-909-6666

www.intendant.net

Roger Mariage Voir la ralite en pleine farce
Le vendredi 25 avril 20h
15$

Notre matre penses, vritable pro du verbe, manipule avec virtuosit les subtilits de la langue franaise afin de nous faire voir la ralit en pleine farce travers des observations qui nous font rflchir autant que sourire. Mais ce drle de philosophe ne jongle pas qu'avec les mots, il jongle avec notre tte, enchanant les ides aussi vite que les calembours, tel point que la transmission de pense(s) de cet homme de paroles dpasse la vitesse du son.

Il fait sans cesse appel notre intelligence et ne chatouille notre matire grise que pour mieux la griser. En plus de nous tonner et de nous enchanter, il nous fait rellement planer.

Aikya "Douceur & Percussions"
Samedi 3 mai 20h
18$

Auteures, compositeures, interprtes et multi instrumentistes, Stphanie et Sabrina, du duo Aikya, proposent un voyage musical unique de pop francophone aux accents de musique du monde. Sous la supervision musicale de Michel Cusson et de Paule-Andre Cassidy la mise en scne, les douces voix du duo fusionnent harmonieusement aux rythmes des percussions de Stphanie (djemb, mrdand, udu et berimbau) et aux effets parfois mystiques du clavier de Sabrina.
Aikya livre une performance envotante o les mots, les voix et la musique ne font qu'un.
Site officiel: http://www.aikya.ca
My space : http://www.myspace.com/duoaikya

Premire partie de AIKYA:
SYLVIA BEAUDRY

Auteure, compositeure, interprte, chante la nature et la ville au son d'une musique folk acoustique voguant entre la folk de Tracy Chapman et la chanson de Richard Desjardins. Ne s'attachant pas un style en particulier, Sylvia explore par moments des touches de country ou de jazz.
Son myspace: http://myspace.com/sylviabeaudry

DOMINIQUE BOUFFARD

Samedi 10 mai- 20h

15$

Originaire du Kamouraska, Dominique Bouffard y grandit jusqu' l'ge de 17 ans avant de s'tablir Qubec. L'auteure-compositrice-interprte se fait remarquer dans le milieu de la musique trs rapidement. Ses nombreuses collaborations d'importants vnements culturels lui permettent de voir des portes s'ouvrir en signant avec Christal Musik. Elle nous revient aprs un passage remarqu en premire partie de la tourne RENAN LUCE l'automne dernier.

Dominique dmontre une remarquable matrise vocale et un talent indniable pour la mlodie. Laurate du Festival en chanson de Petite-Valle en 2004, elle propose des chansons empreintes de ralisme, d'authenticit et d'humour.
Un coup de cur assur !

Site officiel de Dominique: http://www.dominiquebouffard.com
Son myspace: http://www.myspace.com/dominiquebouffard

Martin Jalbert "Je partirai"
samedi 17 mai 20 hrs
15$

Martin Jalbert, auteur-compositeur-interprte, natif de Pabos-Mills en Gaspsie. bas ge, il chantait sur des airs d'un groupe acadien 1755 et interprtait dj les compositions du chanteur Francis Cabrel.
l'ge de 15 ans, il montait sur la scne pour chanter des soires amateurs. C'est cette poque qu'il a crit sa premire composition Reprendre mes sens et depuis il n'a cess de composer des textes et mlodies.
En 2002, Martin enregistre son premier album acoustique D'un temps l'autre. Il a particip au concours Future Star Qubec et Chicoutimi en 2004. Il a remport respectivement la 2ime et la 3e position.
En 2006, aprs 3 ans d'criture et de composition intense, Martin lance son 2ime album folk Je partirai comprenant dix chansons accrocheuses et passionnes telles que : Pig, Ds, mon premier accord, Je partirai, Tu vis, L'homme de fer, Pour rien au monde, Pour une fois, Le rcital, Tu sera, et Un air de dj vu.

Site officiel: http://www.martinjalbert.ca
So myspace: http://myspace.com/jepartirai

ric Larochelle
Le vendredi 23 mai 20h
15$

La vie magnifique d'ric LarochelleĶ

J'ai grandi Pintendre sur la rive-sud de Qubec, j'ai commen߈ jouer du piano trs jeune et un peu plus tard, crire des chansons. l'ge de 19 ans j'avais assez de chansons pour me faire un genre de mini-album que j'allais appeller, a vient de Partir...
En 2003 je remportais le prix du Public au Concours National de la chanson Francophone, Le Pont des toiles.
En 2006 c'tait le Prix du Public au Festival en chanson de Petite-Valle et en 2007, finaliste au Festival international de la chanson de Granby o je remportais 4 mentions dont celui de la Meilleure prsence sur scne donn par Radio-Canada.
J'ai termin mon 4e album-maison au printemps 2007. Pour le reste eh bien j'ai toujours esprance de me faire repcher par la LNH malgr mes 15 livres over, et puis mon snap de 36 milles l'heure. Alors en attendant j'cris des chansons en esprant faire la palette, le motton et puis devenir millionnaire pour acheter une franchise de hockey, rammenner les Nordiques Qubec et me tailler une place sur le premier trio.


ric Larochelle raconte ses histoires dans un franais bien de chez-nous. Entre une guitare et un piano, ses doigts et son coeur balancent toujours, mais s'attardent composer des chansons o le got du risque et de la sincrit sont bien prsents


Le MySpace a ric: http://www.myspace.com/erclarochelle

Babines Duo d'harmonica
Samedi 24 mai 20h
18.50$

Babines vous invite vivre une aventure musicale insolite. Alliant l'harmonica une pointe d'humour, ce duo vous amne autour du monde, la dcouverte des timbres singuliers et des dimensions inattendues de cet instrument sous-estim. Utilisant des harmonicas de toutes les formes, ils font entendre les mille et une facettes de la musique bouche tout en mettant en valeur des instruments comme la flte et les percussions d'origines diverses.
Laissez Babines vous entraner la dcouverte d'univers

Pierre Calv "Les moments les plus beaux"
Jeudi 29 mai 20 h
Vendredi 30 mai 20 h
Samedi 31 mai 20 h

Depuis ses dbuts en 1961, Pierre Calv n'a jamais cess de parcourir les routes pour nous faire partager ses voyages en chansons.
Il sera de retour L'Intendant pour la quatrime fois depuis l'ouverture.
Il nous prsentera ses grands succs tels que : Le vent de l'hiver, Veracruz, Quand les bateaux s'en vont, Vivre en ce pays, Toi le printemps, ainsi que la plupart des pices de son c.d le plus rcent : Aquarelles. De nouvelles chansons viendront s'ajouter son rpertoire et feront partie de son nouveau disque paratre bientt. Il sera accompagn par son frre Jacques Calv la guitare acoustique, au rquinto mexicain et l'accordon. C'est un rendez-vous intime avec les rythmes chauds, la mer et les plages ensoleilles.

ne pas manquer !

L'INTENDANT

10, rue Des-Vaisseaux-Du-Roi, Qubec (Qc) G1K 6T5

(En face de la gare du palais en venant par Charest ,continuit de la cte du Palais en venant de la rue St-Jean).

Renseignements et rservations : (418) 692-6666

Fax : (418) 692-6667

Sans-frais : 1-888-909-6666

Courriel : info@intendant.net


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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:30 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Young musicians compete for $18,500 at the Finals of the NACO Bursary Competition 2008 on May 4

Ottawa, Canada Up to eight young musicians with connections to the National Capital Region will compete for prizes totaling $18,500 at the Finals of the 2008 NAC Orchestra Bursary Competition to be held on Sunday, May 4 at 19:00 in the National Arts Centre Studio. These finalists will be selected from 30 applicants who auditioned before a jury of National Arts Centre Orchestra musicians and guests on April 30 and May 1. The winners will be announced and presented with certificates and cheques at the May 4 Finals. Admission is FREE, but donations to the NAC Orchestra Bursary Trust Fund are greatly appreciated.

Each finalist will perform short orchestral excerpts followed by a movement from a concerto or sonata that features their instrument, sometimes accompanied by piano. Refreshments will be served while the jury deliberates before the announcement of the winners.

The NACO Bursary Competition is open to music students in or from the region aged 16 to 24 who are following a recognized course of music study in preparation for careers as professional orchestral musicians. This years Bursary Committee and Jury are chaired by Vernon G. Turner, Canadas former Ambassador to the USSR and to Israel, and an active volunteer at the National Arts Centre.

The NACO Bursary Trust Fund was established in 1979 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the National Arts Centre Orchestra and to thank the people of the National Capital Region for their support during the Orchestras first decade. The top prize is the NACO Bursary of $7,000 funded from the NACO Bursary Trust Fund. A second Trust Fund prize of $2,000 is the NACO Vic Pomer Award named for the late NACO violinist. A third prize covered by the Fund is the NAC Orchestra Special Prize of $500 for Best Orchestral Excerpts. Also available are three additional prizes to be awarded at the Jurys discretion: the Harold Crabtree Foundation Award of $5,000; the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra Award of $3,000, created in 1993 to celebrate the Orchestras 25th season; and the Piccolo Prix of $1,000 initiated in 2001 by Pasqualina (Pat) Adamo.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:29 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

OSM: Change of soloist

Montreal, April 24, 2008 We wish to inform you that, for health reasons, pianist Oliver Jones has been forced to cancel his performance on April 29 in the Air Canada Words and Music Concerts series. Standing in for Mr. Jones will be one of the finest jazz musicians in Canada, pianist Lorraine Desmarais. She will playing Gershwins Rhapsody in Blue, previously scheduled, and improvising cadenzas for it.

Ms. Desmarais is a hugely popular artist who performs around the world and whose discography includes a number of highly regarded releases. The recipient of many awards, she is the composer of original works that have earned her invitations to several jazz festivals and other musical events. Her playing partners have included such accomplished artists as Michel Donato, Michel Cusson, Franois Bourassa, James Gelfand and Vic Vogel.

On another note, Romulo Larrea will be the bandoneon player for the Astor Piazzolla piece Adis, Nonino on the evenings program.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:28 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Peterborough Singers Perform St. Matthew Passion

Join the Peterborough Singers and world-class soloists for a glorious presentation of Bachs St. Matthew Passion. Saturday, May 10th, 2008 at 7:30 pm at George Street United Church. Tickets $26 Adults/ $10 Students. Call 705-745-1820 or email singers@peterboroughsingers.org.

Peterborough Singers

Phone & Fax: 705-745-1820

singers@peterboroughsingers.com

http://www.peterboroughsingers.com

"Pursuing excellence through the experience of choral music"

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:28 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Ravel, Vivier et Beethoven sont lhonneur en mai lOrchestre Symphonique de Laval


Laval, 23 avril 2008 LOrchestre Symphonique de Laval et son directeur artistique, Alain Trudel, proposent trois uvres majeures du rpertoire classique et contemporain, la hauteur de ces hros et de ces destins tragiques qui ont inspir ce concert. Ainsi, dans son Tombeau de Couperin, Maurice Ravel ddie chaque mouvement des proches disparus lors de la Premire Guerre mondiale. Pour souligner ce qui aurait t son 60e anniversaire de naissance, lOSL rend hommage Claude Vivier, un des compositeurs qubcois les plus influents de sa gnration, mort tragiquement 34 ans. La soprano Nathalie Paulin interprtera lune de ses uvres matresses, lmouvant Lonely Child. Cest lHroque, une pice dterminante du rpertoire symphonique, que Beethoven avait dabord ddie Bonaparte, qui viendra clore avec faste ce concert. noter que lOSL accueillera Espace musique, la radio musicale de Radio-Canada. Le concert sera enregistr et diffus ultrieurement dans le cadre des soires classiques animes par Mario Paquet et prsentes du lundi au jeudi 20 h. Le concert Hros sera prsent le mardi 6 mai 2008 20 h, la salle Andr-Mathieu.

Nathalie Paulin, soprano

Nathalie Paulin a acquis une excellente rputation aux tats-Unis, au Canada, en Europe et en Extrme-Orient comme interprte de premier plan. Rcipiendaire du prix Dora-Mavor-Moore 2005 dans la catgorie Spectacle dopra exceptionnel, elle a travaill avec des chefs dorchestre de renomme internationale dont Jane Glover, Yannick Nzet-Sguin, Andrew Parrott, Jonathan Darlington, Herv Niquet, David Agler, Richard Bradshaw, Bernard Labadie, Mario Bernardi, Anthony Walker, Graeme Jenkins, Andrew Litton et Yoav Talmi, lors de concerts et de spectacles dopra. Depuis 2006, madame Paulin a particip plusieurs concerts, notamment : Orlando, pour lopra de Washington; elle a chant le rle de Pamina dans La Flte enchante, pour lopra de Vancouver; Micala dans Carmen, pour lopra de Calgary; le Gloria de Poulenc, pour lOrchestre Mtropolitain du Grand Montral; Peer Gynt, pour lOrchestre symphonique de Qubec. Elle a remport le prix Dvorak et reu de nombreuses reconnaissances dcernes, notamment, par la Fondation George London de New York, la Young Mozart Singers Comptition de Toronto et le Concours de musique du Canada.

Au programme

Alain Trudel, chef dorchestre

Nathalie Paulin, soprano

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Le Tombeau de Couperin

I. Prlude

II. Forlane

III. Menuet

IV Rigaudon

Le Tombeau de Couperin est ddi non seulement ce grand compositeur baroque que fut Franois Couperin, mais aussi plusieurs amis tombs au cours de la Premire Guerre. Loeuvre fut dabord crite pour piano avant dtre orchestre quelques annes plus tard. Cette orchestration de Ravel montre bien ltendue de son gnie. Entre des traits de hautbois virtuoses et des mlodies de trompettes saccades, se dessine une uvre qui saffranchit presque compltement de son canevas dorigine, pour le plus grand bonheur des mlomanes.

Claude Vivier (1948-1983)

Lonely Child

Claude Vivier nous a quitts il y a dj 25 ans et pourtant, il est encore bien vivant. On sarrache encore son uvre dans les plus grandes maisons ddition et les meilleurs ensembles du monde lenregistrent. La pice Lonely Child, compose en 1980, est une uvre pour soprano et orchestre de chambre. Sa notorit est si grande que des tudiants du monde entier en font lobjet de leur recherche. Luvre est chante dans une langue invente qui cherche veiller une nouvelle sensibilit. Elle est divise en onze sections senchanant les unes aux autres, alternant entre le chant et des interludes dorchestre.

Entracte

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Symphonie no 3 en mi bmol majeur op. 55 LHroque

I. Allegro con brio

II. Marcia funebre (Adagio assai)

III. Scherzo (Allegro vivace) & trio

IV. Finale (Allegro molto Poco andante Presto)

Beethoven affirme son style avec lHroque. On dit, au sujet de lcriture de cette uvre, que cest le gnral Bernadotte, ambassadeur de France Vienne, qui aurait suggr en 1798 Beethoven de composer une symphonie en lhonneur de Napolon. Lhistoire musicale populaire relate que Beethoven aurait ddi luvre Napolon mais, voyant que ce dernier stait autoproclam empereur, en aurait ratur la ddicace. Une chose est certaine, cest que lHroque marque le dbut de la grande poque romantique en musique et demeure toujours une exprience fascinante, tant pour les musiciens que pour le public.

En rsum

Concert : le mardi 6 mai 2008 20 h, la salle Andr-Mathieu

Confrence davant-concert avec Alain Trudel: le mardi 6 mai 2008 ds 19 h 15, la salle Andr-Mathieu

Hros est une prsentation de BMO - Banque de Montral

Les billets pour ce concert sont disponibles :

En ligne : www.salleandremathieu.com

Au guichet de la salle Andr-Mathieu : 475, boul. de lAvenir, Laval

Par tlphone, billetterie de la salle Andr-Mathieu : (450) 667-2040

Via le Rseau admission : (514) 790-1245

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posted by Graham Lord at 11:27 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

May and June at the TSO


A Stellar Conclusion to the
Toronto Symphony Orchestra's 86th Season
Featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Yannick Nzet-Sguin and Jacques Israelievitch

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra's 86th season will soon come to an end, but before you put on your sunglasses and head to the beach, there are still several concerts that are not to be missed!

Much-loved cellist Yo-Yo Ma, whose concerts sell out wherever he performs, returns to Toronto on May 3 to perform Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1, originally written for Mstislav Rostropovich. TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian will conduct this very special evening that will also include Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.

Former TSO music director Gnther Herbig returns to conduct the Orchestra on May 7 and 8 in Mendelssohn's The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) and Schubert's Symphony No. 9, in a concert titled Beethoven Piano Concerto 3. The Concerto will be performed by Jonathan Biss, the talented young American pianist, already recognized for his exceptional artistry, artistic maturity, and versatility. Biss comes from a long line of musicians: both of his parents were professional string players, while his grandmother was Raya Garbousova, for whom Samuel Barber composed his Cello Concerto.

Find out what happens when aliens plot to take over Roy Thomson Hall with conductor Rosemary Thomson and the Magic Circle Mime Company on May 10 at 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Orchestra from Planet X, the last of the Young People's Concerts Series this season, is an out-of-this-world concert experience!

Canadian violinist James Ehnes, a multiple Juno Award-winner and 2008 Grammy Award-winner, joins the TSO for the second time this season for Ehnes & Oundjian, on May 21 and 22. Ehnes will play the violin and lead the Orchestra in Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4, and will be joined by TSO Principal Oboe Sarah Jeffrey for Bach's Concerto for Violin and Oboe. Peter Oundjian will conduct Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, which will conclude the evening.

Rising Canadian star Kwam Ryan will make his TSO debut conducting Ravel's most popular and passionate work, Bolro, on May 24 and 25. Ryan, who grew up in Trinidad, is charting a distinguished career in Europe, having recently been named Musical Director of the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine. He will be joined by another Canadian, violinist Karen Gomyo, who was born in Tokyo to a Japanese father and a French-Canadian mother. She won the 1997 Young Concert Artists International Auditions just one week after her fifteenth birthday and the following year became the youngest artist ever to be presented in the Young Concert Artist Series in New York. In addition to Ravel's Bolro, his Mother Goose Suite, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, and Grieg's Holberg Suite will also be on the programme.

Canadian sensation Yannick Nzet-Sguin returns to the TSO for a second appearance this season to conduct Brahms Symphony 4 on May 29 and 31. This all-Brahms evening features American pianist Stephen Kovacevich, renowned for his interpretations of Brahms, who will take the spotlight in Piano Concerto No. 2.

June will start with a Russian/American Festival, comprising two concerts: Oundjian & Dindo on June 4 and 5, and Thibaudet Plays Gershwin on June 11, 12, and 14.

As tickets are no longer available for Yo-Yo Ma's special appearance in May, the TSO invites you to experience another cello virtuoso, Enrico Dindo. In 1987, Dindo was invited by Riccardo Muti to be the principal cellist at the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, a post he held for 11 years. His solo career was launched in 1997 when he was the first Italian to be awarded first prize at the Mstislav Rostropovich International Cello Competition in Paris. Dindo returns to the TSO after his dazzling debut in 2002, playing both of Shostakovich's Cello Concertos on two consecutive days. This time he will play Prokofiev's Sinfonia concertante for two performances on June 4 and 5.
The second concert of the Festival promises a programme of drama and elegance as masterful French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet plays Gershwin's Piano Concerto and Peter Oundjian conducts Shostakovich's Tahiti Trot (variations on "Tea for Two") and selections from Prokofiev's ballet Romeo and Juliet on June 11, 12, and 14.
Jacques Israelievitch bids farewell to the Orchestra after 20 years as the TSO Concertmaster (the longest such tenure in the ensemble's history) in two concerts titled Celebrating Jacques Israelievitch, one of which will take place at the George Weston Recital Hall. The TSO has commissioned a world premire of the Double Concerto for Violin and Percussion from Kelly-Marie Murphy, which will be conducted by the TSO Composer Advisor Gary Kulesha, and performed by Israelievitch with his son Michael Israelievitch on percussion. Israelievich will play, as well as lead, Bach's Concerto for Two Violins, for which he will be joined by Associate Concertmaster Mark Skazinetsky. Finally, Peter Oundjian will conduct Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, on June 7 and 8.
The TSO season closes with the ever-popular Last Night of the Proms on June 17 and 18. The always entertaining and witty Bramwell Tovey returns to the TSO to conduct these concerts, filled with jovial flag-waving songs such as Rule Britannia, Jerusalem, and Land of Hope and Glory.
A STELLAR CONCLUSION TO THE
TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S 86th SEASON
Featuring Yo-Yo Ma, Yannick Nzet-Sguin and Jacques Israelievitch
Yo-Yo Ma: Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 8pm
Beethoven Piano Concerto 3: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 8pm & Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 8pm
Orchestra from Planet X: Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 1:30pm & 3:30pm
Ehnes & Oundjian: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 8pm & Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 2pm
Bolro: Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 7:30pm & Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 3pm
Brahms Symphony 4: Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 8pm & Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 8pm
Oundjian & Dindo: Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 8pm & Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 8pm
Celebrating Jacques Israelievitch: Saturday, June 7, 2008 at 7:30pm & Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 3pm*
Thibaudet Plays Gershwin: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 8pm, Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 2pm
& Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 8pm
Last Night of the Proms: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 8pm and Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 2pm & 8pm


All concerts take place at Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street, Toronto
unless otherwise indicated
For tickets to all TSO concerts, call Roy Thomson Hall box office 416.593.4828
or online http://www.tso.ca/

*George Weston Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge Street
Tickets to this concert can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 416.872.1111
or online at www.ticketmaster.ca


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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:25 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Leurre juste, un vnement de performance dans les rues de Qubec

Moncton, le 14 avril 2008 - La Galerie Sans Nom, centre d'artistes situ Moncton, en collaboration avec l'Association des groupes en arts visuelsfrancophones (AGAVF), prsentent du 7 au 15 juin, Leurre juste, une srie de performances dans les rues de Qubec. Prsent dans le cadre de la MANIF D'ART 4, l'vnement propose le travail de six artistes et collectifs de diverses rgions francophones du Canada.

Leurre juste met de l'avant un ventail de proccupations contemporaines et s'inscrit dans une dmarche actuelle refltant les intentions multiples des artistes participants. Les performances auront lieu dans divers endroits du Quartier Saint-Roch, encadres d'une exposition collective dans la galerie du Cercle sur St-Joseph en lien avec certaines de ces manifestations.

Six projets seront ainsi prsents par les artistes et collectifs suivants:

Jean-Denis Boudreau (Moncton, NB) est artiste de l'estampe et sculpteur qui exploite des thmes caractre social au moyen d'objets usuels traits avec humour et sarcasme. Sa sculpture Sujet de conversation, qui fait l'objet d'une exprimentation publique et participative, sera en montre dans l'exposition collective.

Maria Legault (Toronto, ON) est artiste interdisciplinaire qui, dans sa jeune carrire, s'est recouvert le visage de gomme mcher, s'est cache dans des nuages de barbe papa, et a rempli des crevasses avec du glaage rose. Elle prsente une performance intitule Maria Plus Un avec son compagnon de vie, une poupe de taille humaine fabrique par l'artiste. Maria Plus Un est un projet tal en plusieurs volets dont la documentation sera prsente dans l'exposition collective.

Le Collectif Taupe (Moncton, NB) est compos de quatre artistes: Jennifer Blanger, Jean-Denis Boudreau, Angle Cormier et Mario Doucette. Au sein du collectif, ces artistes mettent en cause leurs proccupations sous forme de projets tonnants dans des lieux inhabituels incitant l'interaction avec le public et dans le but d'encourager un dialogue. C'est fini est une performance qui explore la rupture du couple.

Dominique Rey et Vanessa Rigaux (Winnipeg MA),artistes multidisciplinaires et membres du collectif Abzurbs, prsentent Histoires d'amour. Ces histoires non ordinaires font allusion des identits et altrits qui mettent en question les paramtres prconus de l'amour.

Jason St-Laurent (Toronto ON) propose Camouflage lors duquel l'artiste s'intgre un monument d'art public habill d'un costume trash qui imitent la texture et la couleur de l'oeuvre. Cette manifestation cadre dans un projet performatif faisant l'objet d'une srie de photographies et ayant eu lieu dans diffrentes villes au Canada et l'tranger. Les photographies de l'ensemble du projet seront prsentes dans l'exposition collective.

Stefan St-Laurent (Ottawa ON) met de l'avant, avec son projet Rveillon, la survivance tenace des Acadiens en Amrique du Nord, un fait peu connu du grand public. Cette performance prendra l'allure d'une invasion par un grand nombre de personnes habilles en costumes traditionnels acadiens s'intgrant un lieu public de la ville.

Afin de connatre l'horaire et les lieux des performances, veuillez consulter le site de la Galerie Sans Nom au www.galeriesansnom.org. L'horaire, ainsi que toutes autres informations, sera aussi disponible sur place la salle d'exposition du Cercle sur St-Joseph, 228 St-Joseph Est.

La Galerie Sans Nom est un centre d'artistes vou la prsentation des arts visuels et multidisciplinaires canadiens. Depuis 1977, elle appuie les initiatives d'artistes, favorisant l'exprimentation et l'innovation. L'Association des groupes en arts visuels francophones (AGAVF) est un organisme national de service aux arts, porte-parole des groupes uvrant dans le domaine des arts visuels professionnels dans les milieux franco-canadiens.

Leurre juste est appuy par le Secrtariat aux affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes (SAIC) de la Province du Qubec, le Patrimoine canadien et le Conseil des arts du Canada.

- 30 -

Source: Lynne Surette, Coordonatrice du projet Leurre juste : lynnesurette@gmail.com
Galerie Sans Nom: info@galeriesansnom.org / 506 854-5381


La Galerie Sans Nom est appuye par ses membres, le Conseil des Arts du Canada
et le Ministre du Mieux-tre, de la Culture et du Sport du Nouveau-Brunswick.

Galerie Sans Nom is supported by its members, the Canada Council for the Arts
and the Department of Wellness, Culture and Sports of New Brunswick.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:24 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Julie Crochetire au Balcon

En spectacle le samedi 26 avril 2008

Dans un univers de musique homogne et phmre, Julie Crochetire se rvle une artiste brillante et indpendante. Son premier album solo, A Better Place, lanc en fvrier 2007,se dmarque par une musique plutt soul-hybride. Artiste d'origine montralaise, elle habite maintenant Toronto.

Sa carrire solo dbute en 2003 lorsqu'elle crit et lance son premier EP, Caf, coproduit avec Haig V (Bran Van 3000). Ce lancement entrane une srie de spectacles dans les festivals de musique les plus importants Toronto, Montral et New York.

En 2007, forte de son exprience de production indpendante partir de la cration jusqu'au spectacle devant public, Julie Crochetire se sentait maintenant d'attaque pour son premier album solo.

Aussi bien rebelle que musicienne doue avec sa formation classique, elle a crit dix des quatorze chansons sur A Better Place, faisant appel entre autres la collaboration de Haydain Neale de Jacksoul et Xandy Barry. Le tout fut enregistr Montral et Toronto en quelques semaines et ralis par Julie et Tony Albino. Le rsultat offre une production remarquablement intime et personnelle. Depuis sa sortie en Fvrier 2007, les ventes de son album ont atteint plus de 20 000 copies travers le Canada et les Etats-Unis. Sa maison de disque est Somerset Entertainment et l'album est distribu par Universal Music.

C'est en coutant l'album A Better Place que l'on constate la diversit des influences musicales qui ont inspir Julie C. pour la ralisation de ce dernier. De par sa personnalit, elle a trouv une faon unique d'interprter ses compositions. Avec le ton soul et sensuel de sa voix, Julie Crochetire nous berce tout au long de son album d'un ton presque bnfique comme nul autre artiste ne pourrait le faire!

De vraies motions quoi!

17h30 : Table d'hte 4 services avec ambiance live, spectacle, taxes et pourboire inclus 65.15$

20h30 : Possibilit d'assister au spectacle seulement 20.00$



Le Balcon Caf-Thtre est situ au 304 rue Notre-Dame est Montral.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:22 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Program Outline - Art & Fine Living with Jona: April 23, 30 2008



Sundays at 7pm and Wednesdays at 3pm

Dear Friends:

Next program, to air on two consecutive Wednesdays, April 23rd and April 30th, is closed captioned by:

1. The Centaur Theatre Company Forever Yours, Marie Lou (Michel Tremblay)

2. I.D Foods Corporation

Montreal Spotlight:

Opera de Montreal; Centaur Theatre; Orchestre Metropolitain; Segal Centre; Les Grands Ballets Canadiens; Danse Danse (Ultima Vez); Orchestre Metropolitain/Concordia Univesity Gala; Israeli Film Festival; Montreal Symphony Orchestra

Featured Guests:

Conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin

Music and Commentary:

Bruckner Symphony No. 7 (Orchestre Metropolitain) (Atma); Tout Passe - Chants d'Acadie (Suzie Leblanc) (Atma); La Mer (Orchestre Metropolitain) (Atma); Karibu - Lionel Loueke (Blue Note); Jazz Samba - Sadao Watanabe (Koch Recrods)

You can hear the program live on the radio at 1650 AM in Montreal, or online at www.radio-shalom.ca. You can also retrieve, listen or download aired programs on my web page (click on Programs - Art to Fine Living with Jona, and scroll down to archives).

I want to express my gratitude to my guest today, Yannick Nezet-Seguin.

With my best wishes,
Jona Rapoport
Producer & Host
Art & Fine Living with Jona
4454 Coolbrook, Suite 6
Montreal, H4A 3G2
www.radio-shalom.ca
jonarapoport@radio-shalom.ca
Media Partners:
The Opera de Montreal
The Centaur Theatre Company

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:21 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Le Domaine Forget : Port par ses rves depuis 30 ans

Saint-Irne, le 22 avril 2008 Guy Carmichael, le directeur artistique du Festival International du Domaine Forget, dvoilait aujourdhui la programmation du 30e anniversaire, une programmation tourne vers lavenir et porte par la ralisation du grand rve du Domaine Forget. Le coup denvoi sera donn le samedi 21 juin et lvnement se poursuivra jusquau 31 aot.

Le Domaine Forget clbrera cet anniversaire avec une saison musicale comportant sa part de rencontres, de dcouvertes, de surprises et de retrouvailles avec des musiciens et ensembles faisant dsormais partie de la tradition. La srie Grands Concerts sera particulirement toffe avec deux concerts de lOrchestre symphonique de Qubec, dirig tour tour par Yoav Talmi et Jean-Franois Rivest, et deux concerts des Violons du Roy sous la direction de Bernard Labadie, dont un avec La Chapelle de Qubec qui fera ses dbuts au Festival. Parmi les solistes invits, la pianiste et improvisatrice Gabriela Montero risque de faire sensation tout comme le pianiste Marc-Andr Hamelin dont le retour sera attendu avec impatience. Lart lyrique sera brillamment reprsent avec notamment deux voix acclames sur les plus grandes scnes dopra, la soprano Sondra Radvanovsky et le tnor canadien Richard Margison, auxquels sajoutent le haute-contre Daniel Taylor et les sopranos qubcoises Karina Gauvin et Marianne Fiset.

La programmation rserve aux mlomanes quelques surprises dont un duo form du pianiste Oliver Jones et du violoniste Rgis Pasquier et une soire mariant lart du cirque et musique avec le duo ve & Basile et lincomparable contrebassiste Franois Rabbath. Les amateurs seront aussi heureux dapprendre que 5 soires seront consacres au jazz cette saison, avec, au nombre des artistes invits, le pianiste Michael Kaeshammer, la merveilleuse chanteuse Stacey Kent et la phnomnale Nikki Yanofsky, qui chantera accompagne de dix musiciens lors du Concert bnfice pour le Fonds de bourse Jacqueline et Paul Desmarais.

Franois Dompierre : Tmoin des premiers instants
Cette saison, Franois Dompierre agira titre de porte-parole, un choix tout indiqu puisque lors des toutes premires saisons du Domaine Forget, le populaire compositeur sjournait avec bonheur sur le site, se laissant inspirer par latmosphre de ce merveilleux site et emporter par le grand rve de son fondateur, Franoys Bernier.


Grands concerts

Bach luniversel
Le samedi 21 juin, loccasion de la soire douverture du 30e Festival International, le Domaine Forget a eu lide de provoquer une rencontre autour de Jean-Sbastien Bach entre le chef dorchestre Bernard Labadie, Les Violons du Roy et le pianiste Alexandre Tharaud. Le pianiste, qui impressionne tant le public que la critique par sa personnalit musicale forte et singulire, interprtera notamment les Concertos pour clavier en r mineur et fa mineur, BWV 1052 et BWV 1056. Le programme comprend galement des uvres clbres du compositeur, la Suite pour orchestre en si mineur, avec, comme soliste, la fltiste Marie-Andre Benny, et le Concerto pour deux violons en r mineur avec Nicole Trotier et Pascale Gigure.

Handel chez le duc de Chandos
Le samedi 2 aot, lors de la soire, Bernard Labadie et Les Violons du Roy seront de retour, cette fois en compagnie de La Chapelle de Qubec qui fera ses dbuts la Salle Franoys-Bernier. La soprano Lydia Teuscher et le tnor Andreas Karasiak se joindront au chur et lorchestre pour offrir le Gloria pour soprano, orgue et continuo, HWV deest et trois Chandos Anthems (nos 2, 5 et 6), qui constituent quelques-unes des plus belles pages de musique religieuse du compositeur.


Le Domaine Forget et lOSQ : Une fructueuse collaboration depuis 30 ans
Depuis sa fondation, le Domaine Forget peut compter sur la prcieuse collaboration de lOrchestre symphonique de Qubec et de ses musiciens. Trente ans plus tard, cette belle association prendra un nouvel essor qui, cette saison, se traduira notamment par deux grands concerts de lOSQ dans le cadre du Festival.

Une symphonie de grandes voix
Le samedi 12 juillet, lOrchestre symphonique de Qubec et son directeur musical, Yoav Talmi, offriront au public une soire Puccini. En plus dinterludes orchestraux, le programme comprend des airs et des duos tirs des opras les plus populaires du compositeur. Le Festival est fier daccueillir pour loccasion deux prestigieux solistes, la soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, loue pour son intensit dramatique et dote dune prsence scnique remarquable, et le tnor canadien, Richard Margison, lun des tnors les plus en vue sur la scne internationale.

Le samedi 19 juillet passera lhistoire alors que lOSQ, sous la direction de Jean-Franois Rivest, interprtera la Quatrime symphonie de Mahler, la premire symphonie du compositeur tre donne la Salle Franoys-Bernier. La soliste pour ce Mahler sera la merveilleuse soprano Karina Gauvin que le public retrouvera avec grand plaisir. Le pianiste Stphane Lemelin se joindra galement lorchestre pour interprter le Concertino pour St-Irne de Franois Dompierre.


Solistes dexception

Le samedi 28 juin, les mlomanes ne voudront pas manquer les dbuts au Festival de la pianiste vnzulienne Gabriela Montero. Dcrite par Martha Argerich comme une artiste unique au talent rare , la jeune interprte et improvisatrice exerce une vritable fascination dans le monde musical. Tel un virtuose de lpoque romantique, Gabriela Montero puise son inspiration dans les uvres matresses des grands compositeurs, alliant fantaisie, motions et haute technicit musicale pour rinventer avec brio le concept du pianiste de concert. Tout simplement captivant !

Le mercredi 9 juillet, le guitariste Lorenzo Micheli revient au festival avec SoloDuo, un ensemble quil forme avec le guitariste Matteo Mela. Les deux musiciens offriront des uvres parmi les plus prises du rpertoire dont Tonadilla de Rodrigo et Tango Suite de Piazzolla, un programme avec lequel le duo faisait ses dbuts Carnegie Hall en mars dernier.

Cest galement avec empressement que le public assistera au rcital du pianiste Marc-Andr Hamelin, le vendredi 1er aot. Parions quil fera honneur sa rputation de virtuose extraordinaire avec un programme titanesque et audacieux compos de la Sonate de Berg, la Sonate opus 35 de Chopin et lpoustouflant Concerto pour piano solo, opus 39 dAlkan.

Le samedi 16 aot, le public sera heureux de retrouver le haute-contre Daniel Taylor qui, en compagnie du chur de 18 voix et de lorchestre du Theatre of Early Music, tentera de suspendre le temps et la douleur en offrant au public des uvres de Bach et de ses contemporains.

Mariages de passions

Cette saison, le Festival surprendra le public en lui faisant dcouvrir quelques mariages de passions. Quy soit clbre lunion de lart du cirque et de la musique, de lhumour et de lharmonie ou encore du classique et du jazz, ces soires promettent des moments la fois tonnants, magiques et assurment mmorables.

Le jeudi 17 juillet rserve aux festivaliers une exprience indite alliant art du cirque et musique avec le duo ve & Basile. Runissant la pianiste ve-Anouk Jebejian et le jongleur Cyril Rabbath alias Basile Dragon, deux artistes issus dunivers diffrents, le duo cre une passerelle audacieuse entre la musique et le cirque, jouant tantt avec les atmosphres de Satie, tantt avec les rythmes fous de Bartk pour produire dtonnantes jongleries musicales. ve & Basile a t rcompens lunanimit par le Soleil d'Or du Festival de Cirque de Sierre en aot 2004. Cest en famille que se droulera la seconde partie du concert alors que seront runis sur scne le contrebassiste Franois Rabbath et ses deux fils, le pianiste Sylvain Rabbath et le jongleur Cyril Rabbath.

Le vendredi 16 juillet, le fabuleux quatuor vocal britannique, Cantabile, prsente De Bach aux Beatles!, un voyage musical clectique alliant humour british et virtuosit musicale pour offrir un dcapant mlange dhumour et dharmonie qui sduit le public depuis 25 ans. La soire du samedi 26 juillet rserve aussi une surprise de taille au public alors que le violoniste Rgis Pasquier et le pianiste Oliver Jones partageront la scne pour offrir des grands classiques du jazz. Les deux musiciens, qui nont fait connaissance que lanne dernire au Domaine Forget, ont eu un vritable coup de foudre musical, faisant natre lide de partager ensemble la scne cette saison pour le plus grand bonheur des mlomanes.


Dcouvertes et hommages

Quelle prsence et quelle vitalit ! (Diapason)
Le vendredi 4 juillet, le public pourra dcouvrir le guitariste franais Judical Perroy. Ds lge de 11 ans, le musicien donnait des concerts, et par la suite, il sest illustr lors de plusieurs concours internationaux, remportant notamment le premier prix du 15e Concours Ren Bartoli, en 1992, et le grand prix lunanimit du 15e Concours de la Guitar Foundation of America, en 1997. Pour ses dbuts au Festival, il interprtera la Grande Sonate opus 39 de Paganini, les Variations sur la Follia et Fugue de Ponce et des uvres dAlbeniz, Ohana et J.S. Bach, un programme mettant en lumire son temprament fougueux et son incroyable virtuosit.

Le samedi 5 juillet, le public sera nombreux assister au premier rcital au Festival de la soprano qubcoise Marianne Fiset, qui, en mai 2007, remportait le grand prix du Concours Musical International de Montral, et qui rcemment, tait nomme Jeune Soliste 2008 par les Radios Francophones Publiques. La jeune artiste offrira, en compagnie de la pianiste Marie-ve Scarfone, des uvres de Rossini, Liszt, Rachmaninov et Tchakovski.

Hommage deux titans du XXe sicle : Messiaen et Stockhausen
Le vendredi 27 juin, trois jeunes musiciens qubcois, les fltistes Chlo Labb et Genevive Draspe et le clarinettiste Franois Duval, tous anciens stagiaires lAcadmie de musique et de danse, auxquels se joindra le clarinettiste Jonathan Cohler, transporteront le public dans lunivers inou de Karlheinz Stockhausen, dcd en dcembre 2007. Le programme comprend notamment AVE, une uvre pour flte et cor de basset que Chlo Labb et Franois Duval offraient lautomne dernier en premire nord-amricaine. Les deux musiciens ont d'ailleurs pris part des stages de perfectionnement auprs du compositeur, et leur participation remarque a t souligne par l'obtention d'une bourse. Ce concert sera prcd dune causerie anime par la fltiste Lise Daoust qui a travaill pendant plus de 15 ans avec le compositeur.

Le vendredi 15 aot, loccasion du centime anniversaire de naissance dOlivier Messiaen, Louise Bessette, musicienne chevronne et pianiste de haute voltige, offrira des extraits des Vingt Regards sur lEnfant-Jsus, une uvre qui lui a valu dtre reconnue comme lune des plus grandes interprtes du compositeur. Intitule Carillons ternels, la premire partie runira des musiques d'Arcuri, Debussy, Grieg, Lecuona, Liszt, Messiaen et Ravel, une invitation se laisser emporter par le charme et les chos des campaniles.

Musique de chambre

De toutes les sries du Festival, celle qui reflte le plus lesprit et latmosphre qui rgne depuis 30 ans au Domaine Forget, cest sans contredit La Musique de chambre. Ces concerts sont loccasion pour des artistes invits et des pdagogues de lAcadmie de musique et de danse de se runir sur scne, dchanger, dexplorer, et de partager avec le public leur vive passion pour la musique de chambre et les chefs-duvre du rpertoire.

Le mercredi 2 juillet, le Festival accueillera deux de nos plus talentueux jeunes musiciens, le violoniste Alexandre Da Costa et le pianiste Wonny Song. En plus dinterprter deux clbres uvres du rpertoire, la Sonate en fa majeur Printemps de Beethoven et la Sonate en r mineur, opus 108 de Brahms, le duo fera une incursion dans la musique de film avec la non moins clbre suite La Liste de Schindler de John Williams.


Le violoncelle lhonneur
Le concert du vendredi 25 juillet comblera de bonheur les amoureux du violoncelle alors que Philippe Muller, un fidle collaborateur depuis 1980, Paul Marleyn, Johanne Perron et Ryan Molzan, tous professeurs lAcadmie de musique et de danse, offriront une version pour ensemble de violoncelles du Kol Nidrei de Bruch. Le violoncelliste Philippe Muller et le pianiste Pascal Rog interprteront ensuite lmouvante Sonate Arppegione de Schubert. Le violoniste Rgis Pasquier, laltiste James Dunham et le violoncelliste Philippe Muller se joindront au pianiste Pascal Rog pour clore le concert avec le Quatuor pour piano et cordes, opus 25 de Brahms.

De Ravel au jazz en passant par le tango !
Le samedi 26 juillet, le violoniste Rgis Pasquier sera de retour en compagnie de collgues de lAcadmie de musique et de danse, les violonistes Mark Fewer, Jonathan Swartz, Yehonatan Berick, les altistes James Dunham et Jean-Luc Plourde, les violoncellistes Johanne Perron et Ryan Molzan et le contrebassiste Ali Yazdanfar, auxquels se joindra le pianiste Pascal Rog, pour offrir un programme clectique souhait. Aprs la Sonate pour deux violons de Mikls Rzsa et la Sonate pour violon et piano en solo majeur de Ravel, le public dcouvrira Last Round dOsvaldo Golijov, une uvre pour deux quatuors cordes et une contrebasse, inspire dAstor Piazzolla, du bandonon et du tango argentin. La soire se terminera avec la rencontre indite entre le violoniste Rgis Pasquier et le pianiste Oliver Jones autour des grands classiques du jazz.

Le vendredi 8 aot, le violoniste Jonathan Crow partagera la scne avec les violonistes Claude Richard et Gwen Thompson, laltiste Peter Slowik, les violoncellistes Matt Haimovitz et Blair Lofgren et le pianiste Jean Marchand. Matt Haimovitz ouvrira le concert avec Cdres en voiles (Thrne pour le Liban) de Gilles Tremblay. Le Deuxime trio pour piano et cordes, opus 87 de Brahms et le Quintette pour piano et cordes en r mineur, H. 49 de Bridge compltent le programme.

La srie se terminera le samedi 9 aot avec les dbuts du Quatuor cordes de Moscou qui clbre ses 30 ans de carrire. Lide de former un quatuor est ne de lenthousiasme des quatre musiciennes pour le Quatuor Borodine, un ensemble avec qui elles ont par la suite eu le bonheur de collaborer. Lensemble fera honneur la plus pure tradition russe en offrant des uvres de Chostakovitch, Tchakovski de mme que le Deuxime quatuor cordes de Borodine dont le mouvement lent est lune des pages les plus clbres du rpertoire.

Folklore du monde et musique ancienne

Le mercredi 25 juin, lambiance sera la fte alors que lensemble Budowitz, fera dcouvrir la musique des Klezmorim, ces balladins juifs ashknazes qui, au XIXe sicle, dambulaient dune fte lautre en Lithuanie, en Hongrie, en Pologne et en Roumanie. Joue sur des instruments dpoque, le violon, le violoncelle, la clarinette, laccordon et le cymbalum, leur musique exprime lme du peuple juif dEurope centrale. Le mercredi 23 juillet, le fltiste Matthias Maute et lEnsemble Caprice offriront Vivaldi, la Follia et les gitans, un fougueux mlange de concertos pour fltes du grand prtre roux et de musique gitane du XVIIIe sicle.

Lamour, toujours lamourĶ
Le mercredi 30 juillet, place lEnsemble Constantinople, la chanteuse franco-marocaine Franoise Atlan et Ay !! AmorĶ, une incursion dans lunivers des Chants damour et des Chants de femmes, puiss dans les traditions persanes, judo-espagnole, ibrique et trouvre franaise. La voix chaude de Franoise Atlan, une des grandes voix de la Mditerrane, sunira magnifiquement aux improvisations et calligraphies musicales de lEnsemble Constantinople.


Concerts jazz Industrielle Alliance

Les amateurs de jazz seront heureux dapprendre que 5 soires plutt que 4 seront cette saison consacres au jazz. Lengouement pour le jazz au Domaine Forget se traduit galement par la renaissance du stage de jazz instrumental de lAcadmie de musique et de danse.

Irrsistible Stacey Kent !
Le coup denvoi de la srie sera donn le jeudi 26 juin alors que le Festival accueillera pour la premire fois, Stacey Kent, lune des chanteuses les plus en vue sur la scne jazz internationale. Reconnue pour sa voix douce et caressante, cette romantique dans lme offrira des extraits de son premier album sous tiquette Blue Note, Breakfast On The Morning Tram, sur lequel figurent des chansons originales crites pour la chanteuse par le saxophoniste Jim Tomlinson sur des textes du romancier Kazuo Ishiguro, des classiques de jazz et des chansons franaises.

Aprs des dbuts retentissants la saison dernire, le pianiste Michael Kaeshammer sera de retour le jeudi 24 juillet pour le plus grand plaisir des amateurs. Reconnu pour son incroyable virtuosit et sa passion pour le boogie-woogie, il dvoilera, en compagnie de son trio, une autre facette de sa personnalit musicale en interprtant quelques-unes de ses compositions, des chansons originales tires de son nouvel album, Days like these, un mlange de boogie-woogie, de blues et de funk.

Le vendredi 22 aot, les amateurs seront heureux de retrouver le trompettiste Tiger Okoshi qui reviendra en compagnie de ses fidles complices, la pianiste Lorraine Desmarais, le contrebassiste Michel Donato et le batteur Camil Belisle. Tous professeurs de lAcadmie, ils se feront un plaisir de partager la scne avec des tudiants inscrits au nouveau stage de jazz. Enfin, le samedi 30 aot, le public se laissera assurment charmer par le chanteur canadien Denzal Sinclaire, lun des chanteurs prfrs de Diana Krall, dont le timbre rappelle celui des lgendaires Nat King Cole et Johny Hartman. Il offrira des extraits de My one and only love, un album renfermant quelques-unes des plus belles chansons damour du rpertoire.

Hors srie : Concert bnfice pour le fonds de bourse Jacqueline et Paul Desmarais
Le vendredi 18 juillet, le Festival accueillera la sensation qubcoise, Nikki Yanofsky, ge de 14 ans seulement, qui, en 2007, prsentait quatre soires guichet ferm au Festival international de jazz de Montral, soulevant la foule grce son scat prodigieux et sa maturit musicale hors du commun. En compagnie dun orchestre de dix musiciens, elle prsentera le spectacle EllaĶof Thee I Swing, un vibrant hommage son idole, Ella Fitzgerald.


Place la danse !

Cette saison, dans le cadre de la srie Le Domaine danse, le Festival prsentera les plus rcentes crations des deux compagnies de danse qubcoises. Dabord, le vendredi 11 juillet, le public dcouvrira ezDanza, une compagnie qui sinspire de lhritage culturel mexicain de son chorgraphe et directeur artistique, Edgar Zendejas et dont le vocabulaire contemporain puise dans la rigueur du ballet classique. Quatre pices sont au programme dont Gardez leau, une nouvelle cration teinte dhumour invitant la paix, lgalit et la tolrance.

Le mercredi 6 aot, la compagnie de danse Cas public prsentera le nouvel opus de sa directrice et chorgraphe Hlne Blackburn, Suites cruelles, qui runit neuf danseurs et deux pianistes, Matthieu Fortin et Laurier Rajotte. Dans cette uvre dune grande virtuosit, la chorgraphe se questionne sur le prix vritable de nos plaisirs en sinspirant dune question pose par Nietzsche: Et si plaisir et dplaisir taient lis par un lien tel que pour avoir le plus possible de lun on doive avoir le plus possible de lautreĶ

Brunches-musique et Fte champtre

Une dlicieuse faon de dcouvrir le Domaine Forget
Les brunches-musique sont offerts tous les dimanches de lt, du 15 juin au 31 aot dans le nouveau pavillon du Domaine Forget. Abondamment fentr et dot dune terrasse exceptionnelle, le pavillon peut accueillir jusqu 225 convives, beau temps, mauvais temps. Un savoureux buffet, des musiciens fascinants et une vue imprenable sur le fleuve Saint-Laurent composent le menu de ces 12 repas champtres.

On se fait tout un cirque avec LaTourelle Orkestra !
Le dimanche 20 juillet, loccasion de la fte champtre annuelle, le public est invit venir pique-niquer sur le vaste site du Domaine Forget, ds 11 h 30, et participer une foule dactivits circassiennes et musicales destines tous les enfants, de 7 77 ans. Lensemble LaTourelle Orkestra ajoutera la touche finale en transportant le public dans un tourbillon de rythmes folkloriques dEurope de lEst, de musiques nomades et de jazz manouche.


Les concerts et cours de matre
de lAcadmie de musique et de danse

Fond en 1978, le Domaine Forget doit sa cration Franoys Bernier, musicien, chef dorchestre et homme de vision qui rvait dun lieu dchanges, de rencontres et de perfectionnement pouvant accueillir, pendant la saison estivale, des jeunes musiciens et danseurs dsireux de bnficier de lenseignement de musiciens et pdagogues chevronns. Aujourdhui, lAcadmie de musique et de danse reoit quelque 600 stagiaires et 120 professeurs chaque t, faisant de cette institution lune des plus importantes acadmies dt au Canada.

Activits gratuites
De 3 juin au 31 aot, 13 cours de matres seront ouverts au public, permettant de voir luvre quelques-uns des rputs pdagogues de lAcadmie, les violonistes Rgis Pasquier, Mark Fewer et Jonathan Swartz, laltiste Atar Arad, les violoncellistes Philippe Muller et Timothy Eddy, le contrebassiste Paul Ellison, les trompettistes James Thompson et Tiger Okoshi, le tromboniste Alain Trudel, le fltiste Michel Debost, le bassoniste Gustavo Nuez, le guitariste Judical Perroy et le chanteur jazz Denzal Sinclaire. De plus, le public est convi aux 11 concerts dtudiants prsents au terme des stages de cuivres, de bois, de guitare, de cordes, de chur et de jazz vocal.



Abonnement et Sries du Domaine

LAbonnement au Festival consiste en 10 billets de concert au choix ou 8 billets de concert et 2 billets pour les brunches-musique du dimanche. Offert au prix de 265 $ (taxes incluses), labonnement vous permet dconomiser 15 30 % sur le prix rgulier et de profiter des meilleurs choix de siges disponibles pour les concerts du Festival prsents du 21 juin au 31 aot.

Les mlomanes ont aussi la possibilit de sabonner lune ou lautre des Sries du Domaine, une autre faon dconomiser jusqu 15 % sur le prix des billets et de sassurer de bons siges pour chacun des concerts. Les sries offertes sont Les Grands concerts, Le Domaine Danse, Les Concerts jazz Industrielle Alliance, Festival Extrme, qui permet dassister trois concerts en une semaine (mardi au samedi), et cette saison, la srie du 30e anniversaire, qui inclut les concerts de musique de chambre des 17, 25 et 26 juillet et du 8 aot.

Information et Rservation

418 452-3535 ou
1 888-DFORGET (336-7438)
Tlcopieur : 418 452-3503
www.domaineforget.com

Remerciements

Le Domaine Forget tient remercier chaleureusement les commanditaires majeurs et les partenaires privilgis qui rendent possible la prsentation de la saison 2008. Nous remercions M. Michel Guimond, dput fdral de Charlevoix, Mme Pauline Marois, dpute de Charlevoix lAssemble nationale, Hydro-Qubec, Power Corporation du Canada, Fondation J. A. de Sve, Loto-Qubec, Casino de Charlevoix, Industrielle Alliance, Consulat gnral de France Qubec, Galaxie, Bell, BPR, Caisses Desjardins de Charlevoix, Financire Sun Life, GlaxoSmithKline, Groupe Germain, Joseph Ribkoff, Provigo, Restaurant Mikes, Mtro, Alcoa, Bilodeau Immobilier, BMO Banque de Montral, Les Brasseurs RJ, Caisse dconomie Solidaire Desjardins, Lavery de Billy, Pictet Canada, Restaurant Le Traditionnel Bagel Maguire, Samson Blair Deloitte & Touche, Olymel, Stein Monast, Gentec, Radio-Canada Tlvision, RDI, Consulat gnral dAllemagne, Consulat gnral dEspagne, Dufour Pontiac Chevrolet/Location Discount, Tourisme Charlevoix, Conservatoire de musique de Qubec, Universit Laval, Grand Thtre de Qubec, Municipalit de Saint-Irne, Guilde des musiciens du Qubec, Hebdo Charlevoisien, TVC-VM, ainsi que PianoPlus Michel Pedneau, Rseau Admission et Zoom Mdia.

Le Domaine Forget tient aussi souligner lapport essentiel du Patrimoine canadien, du Conseil des Arts du Canada, du ministre de la Culture et des Communications et de la Condition fminine, du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Qubec, de Tourisme Qubec, du ministre des Relations internationales du Qubec, de la Confrence Rgionale des lus de la Capitale-Nationale ainsi que dEspace Musique, la radio musicale de Radio-Canada et diffuseur officiel du Festival International du Domaine Forget, qui contribue au rayonnement par lenregistrement et la diffusion de concerts.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:20 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Bernard Labadie Conducts the Classic Landmark Masters featuring Soprano Allyson McHardy- May 3 (8PM) & 4 (2PM)

Edmonton, AB Ķ A weekend of classical elegance and melody awaits, as Bernard Labadie makes a welcome return on the ESO podium. Hailed for his "full-bodied" and "strongly dramatic" interpretations that manage "to preserve a sense of transparency" (Toronto Star), Bernard Labadie has established himself as one of the leading conductors of the Baroque and Classical repertoire.

He leads the ESO in two great symphonies, Schubert's Fifth and Haydn's "Military," as well as some treasured Mozart vocal works, sung by rising Canadian mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy, who has been called "a singer of enormous imagination and versatility," by the San Francisco Chronicle. The performance also includes concert and opera arias and features Edmonton pianist Michael Massey for Mozart's Ch'io mi scorid di te?... Non temer, amato bene.

Ticket prices for this performance range from $36 to $53 (agency fees apply). Tickets are available through the Winspear Centre Box Office. Saturday evening's 7:15pm Symphony Prelude features Edmonton Mezzo-Soprano Michelle Milenkovic.

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The next performance of The Masters takes place on May 23rd and 24th with Conductor David Atherton and Pianist Anton Kuerti.

Saturday, May 3rd is generously sponsored by Classic Landmarks Master Builder

Media Sponsors: CKUA Radio Network and the Edmonton Journal

Hotel Sponsor: The Westin Hotel Edmonton


Winspear Centre Box Office:

(780)428-1414 or 1-800-563-5081

www.edmontonsymphony.com

#4 Winston Churchill Square

Biographies

Bernard Labadie completed most of his musical training in his native Qubec City at the School of Music of Laval University as well as the conservatories of Quebec and Montreal.

Much of Labadie's unique reputation is the result of his work with Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Qubec, which he founded in 1984 and 1985, respectively, and continues to lead as music director to this day. With the two ensembles he regularly tours Canada, the U.S., and Europe. Passionate about opera, Bernard Labadie was Artistic Director of L'Opra de Montral through the end of the 2005/06 season. Between 1994 and 2003, Labadie was also Artistic and Music Director of L'Opra de Qubec. He embraces the entire Baroque, Classical and Romantic opera repertoire.

Equally at home on the concert stage, Labadie has become a sought-after guest conductor with the major orchestras. Ever since his triumphant debut with the Minnesota Orchestra in 1999, he has conducted the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, as well as symphonies including the symphonies of San Francisco, Atlanta, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. 2007-08 is another season full of noteworthy appearances with such top orchestras as the St. Louis Symphony, and the Houston Symphony. His extensive discography includes many recordings on the Dorian label. Other recordings feature his own arrangements of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations and The Art of Fugue, among others. He also appears regularly on radio and television broadcasts on the CBC/Radio-Canada network.

For his achievements, the Canadian government honored him with the appointment as "Officer of the Order of Canada" in 2005 and Quebec made him a "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Qubec" in 2006.

Striking mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy made her debut with New York City Opera as Marquise Melibea in Rossini's Il Viaggio a Reims. Recent concert engagements have included Messiah for the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Elijah in Montral, Les nuits d't in Bielefeld, Germany and Alexander Nevsky for Orchestra London. Ms. McHardy will appear with the Toronto Symphony in Messiah. In Toulouse, she appears as Phdre in a rare staging of Hippolyte et Aricie. Minnesota Opera patrons hear her in May of 2009 as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and she returns to Vancouver Opera for a reprise of Olga in Eugene Onegin.

Born in Oshawa, Ontario, she studied voice at Wilfrid Laurier University, earning an Honours Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance and an Opera Diploma. She is an alumna of the Merola Programme at the San Francisco Opera the Ensemble Studio of the Canadian Opera Company. This is Ms. McHardy's official debut with the ESO, however she has sung several roles for Edmonton Opera, with the ESO performing, most recently as Mallika in Lakm in October 2004.

Michael Massey was born in England and emigrated to Canada in 1957. Studies at the University of Alberta earned him a Bachelor of Music degree and the gold medal in piano performance of the Western Board of Music. Following his graduation he spent two years studying at the Geneva Conservatory where he was unanimously awarded the "Premier Prix de Virtuosit." Mr. Massey has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Canada, England and Scotland. He has been the orchestral pianist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for over 25 years. Since 1977, he has been Music Director of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra program. In 1988 and 1996 Mr. Massey wrote and published The Canadian Repertoire Manual, a source book and analysis of Canadian music suitable for youth orchestras. In 2002, for his contribution to the cultural life of the city, Mr. Massey was inducted into the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame as an ArtistBuilder and also received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.


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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:18 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Monterey Jazz Festival Announces Members Of The 2008 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra





21 High School Musicians From 11 States Comprise

MJF's Renowned National Big Band

NGJO Performs At North Sea Jazz Festival

In Rotterdam, The Netherlands, July 9 - 11

NGJO Performs At Berklee College of Music, July 15

Next Generation Composition Competition Winner, Sean Richey, Debuts

40 Days And 40 Nights At 51st Monterey Jazz Festival, September 21, 2008

April 22, 2008; Monterey, California; The Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce members of the 2008 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Festival's internationally-renowned high school all-star big band. Created as a part of the Monterey Jazz Festival's continuing commitment to jazz education, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra includes the most talented high school jazz students from all regions of the United States.

The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (formerly known as the MJF High School All-Star Big Band from 1971-2004) nurtures the future generation of jazz stars through a program that selects the best and brightest high school jazz musicians in the country. In 2008, the twenty-one-piece jazz orchestra features members selected from eighteen high schools from the four corners of the country, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington. Eleven states have contributed members this year in an unprecedented cross-section of the best high school jazz programs in the country.

As in the past, these students will speak for their generation as loudly and clearly as their predecessors, which include pianists Benny Green and Patrice Rushen, bassist Larry Grenadier, drummer Chad Wackerman, and saxophonists Joshua Redman and Dave Koz, to name a few. A list of members of the 2008 NGJO appears at the end of this press release and is available on the Monterey Jazz Festival website, www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

Under the direction of Mr. Paul Contos, the renowned saxophonist and flautist who serves as the director of the Orchestra, the ensemble is dedicated to the study and performance of the most challenging big band literature available.

"The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra for 2008 will once again be the superlative collection of advanced high school jazz musicians in the United States, demonstrating their skill and musical prowess by performing repertoire of the most innovative and carefully crafted arrangements and compositions currently written for jazz orchestra, said Paul Contos, Director of the NGJO. The members represent eleven states and will be showcasing a variety of jazz styles and key soloists within the ensemble. These players have already garnered reputations as highly skilled and prominent voices for the future of jazz.

The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra will embark on its annual summer tour, starting with rehearsals at the Berklee College of Music in Boston on July 5 followed by passage to the 33rd Annual North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on July 7. While in Rotterdam they will perform three times, returning to Boston on July 13. The NGJO will then record an album at the Berklee College of Music and perform a special concert for students in the schools prestigious Five-Week Summer Performance Program on July 15.

Culminating their tenure in the band, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra will perform with saxophonist Maceo Parker at the 51st Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon on September 20th on the Arena/Jimmy Lyons Stage, and with bassist and 2008 MJF Artist-In-Residence, Christian McBride, on the Arena/Jimmy Lyons Stage on September 21.

Members of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra were selected through a rigorous audition process that included review by a national panel of judges comprised of professional jazz musician/educators. The Monterey Jazz Festival invited interested students to audition for the NGJO via video tape or in person, during MJF's 4th Annual Next Generation Festival, held April 3 - 6 in downtown Monterey.

I am really pleased with the substantial increase in the number of applicants for the NGJO this year both in the video and live auditions, said Dr. Rob Klevan, Education Director for the Monterey Jazz Festival and Next Generation Festival. I guess you could say that the good word about this band is out! According to our judges, the level of talent applying for this prestigious ensemble was just plain exceptional. I look forward to hearing this outstanding group of individuals perform both this summer and at the MJF next September!

In 2008, there are seven returning members of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra: trombonists Stephen Szabadi and Javier Nero; saxophonists John Palowitch, Adam Larson and Owen Broder; and trumpeters Kevin Early and Nick Frenay. John Palowitch of Pleasanton, California is the only three-time member of the NGJO this year and has performed at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy; the International Music Festival in Dubrovnik, Croatia; the Hilton in Paris, France; New York Citys Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Jazz Standard and Sweet Rhythm as well as on the Arena/Jimmy Lyons stage of Montereys 49th, 50th and 51st Festivals.

The Monterey Jazz Festival is also proud to announce the winner of the Next Generation Festival's prestigious Big Band Composition Competition, Sean Richey. Mr. Richey is a senior at Buchanan High School in Clovis, California and plays guitar with the Buchanan High School Big Band. The winning composition, "40 Days and 40 Nights," will be given its MJF premiere on the Arena/Lyons Stage of the Monterey Jazz Festival by the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra on Sunday, September 21. Mr. Richey will also receive a $1000 prize and new music writing software from Sibelius.

Honorable Mention for the Composition Competition is shared by guitarist Arian Shafiee, from Skyline High School in Oakland, California for "Geisha," and trumpeter Aaron Bahr, a senior at Campolindo High School in Moraga, California for "Circular Logic."

Major funding for the Monterey Jazz Festivals Education Programs comes from a three-year grant from the Surdna Foundation, supporting the Next Generation Festival and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra's international tours. The Surdna Foundations Arts Program is national in scope and supports the artistic advancement of teens, ages 12-18.

For more information about the NGJO, please visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

The 2008 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra
Director - Mr. Paul Contos

Saxophones

John Palowitch - alto***

Hailey Niswanger alto

Adam Larson - tenor**

Chad Lefkowitz-Brown - tenor

Owen Broder - baritone**


Trombones

John Egizi

Javier Nero**

Stephen Szabadi**

Natalie Cressman

Emmanuel Rojas (bass)


Trumpets

Blake Martin

Kevin Early**

Gabe Medd

Nick Frenay**

Noah Hocker


Rhythm

Emmet Cohen piano

Mike Gurrola bass

Armand Hirsch - guitar

Jimmy Macbride - drums

Daniel Nadeau - drums

Richard Saunders - vocals


Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA

Pacific Crest Community School, Portland, OR

University High School, Normal, IL

Horseheads High School, Horseheads, NY

North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, NC



Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA

Evergreen High School, Vancouver, WA

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA

San Francisco School of the Arts, San Francisco, CA

Warren High School, Downey, CA



Evergreen High School, Vancouver, WA

Las Vegas Academy, Las Vegas, NV

Iowa City West High School, Iowa City, IA

Manlius Pebble Hill School, DeWitt, NY

Arts & Communication Magnet Academy, Beaverton, OR



Montclair High School, Montclair, NJ

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA

Trevor Day School, New York, NY

Hall High School, West Hartford, CT

Wayland High School, Wayland, MA

Simsbury High School, Simsbury, CT

** 2-time member of NGJO

*** 3-time member of NGJO

###

For interview opportunities, information about MJFs education programs

and high-resolution photographs, please contact:

Timothy Orr

Marketing Associate

Monterey Jazz Festival
Direct Line: 510-652-1122

MJF Phone: 831-373-3366 X252
timorr@montereyjazzfestival.org

www.montereyjazzfestival.org

If you no longer wish to receive information from the Monterey Jazz Festival, click here to unsubscribe.



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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:17 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Le coup d'envoi est donn!



PAS DE DANSE, PAS DE VIE! 2008
Le coup d'envoi est donn!


Montral, le 22 avril 2008 Cest devant le 770, rue Sherbrooke Ouest, en prsence du premier ministre du Qubec, monsieur Jean Charest, quAnik Bissonnette, marraine de lvnement, et la chorgraphe Marie Chouinard, auteure de la Trace chorgraphique peinte devant le bureau du Conseil excutif, accompagnes dun groupe denfants, ont donn le coup denvoi de la quatrime dition de Pas de danse, pas de vie!. Lvnement annuel convie les montralais six jours dactivits de danse gratuites, coordonn par le Regroupement qubcois de la danse et port firement par plus de deux cent cinquante professionnels de la danse.

Depuis le bureau du premier ministre Montral jusque dans les cours de plusieurs coles primaires et secondaires du Qubec, la Trace de Marie Chouinard sera reproduite par des enseignants de danse et leurs lves, qui cette Trace est tout particulirement ddie. Dans les prochains jours, vingt-cinq autres Traces, signes par autant de chorgraphes qubcois, feront leur apparition sur les trottoirs de Montral. Ces squences de pas, sous les pieds des passants, empruntent un parcours cibl, rappelant ainsi que le plaisir des arts, et de la danse en particulier, crot avec lusage. Ont t retenus comme destinataires privilgis de ce message dintrt public : le Conseil du Trsor, le ministre des Finances, le ministre de lEducation, du Loisir et du Sport, le ministre de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition fminine, les trois Commissions scolaires de lle de Montral, la Fdration nationale des enseignants et des enseignantes du Qubec, lAlliance des professeures et des professeurs de Montral, lHtel de ville de Montral, parmi dautres institutions ddies aux arts et la danse en particulier.

Du 22 avril au 27 avril prochain, lenseigne du plaisir fait danse, Pas de danse, pas de vie! 2008 offre plus dune centaine dactivits, dont des cours de danse, des ateliers de dmonstration, des portes ouvertes, et un super SquatDanse, le 27 avril la Place des Arts, entre 11 h et 16 h 30, alors que la communaut de la danse prend dassaut le Thtre Maisonneuve et ses dpendances, en complicit avec le tout public. En ouverture ce parcours inusit, auquel un fort contingent dartistes de la relve donne le ton, Anik Bissonnette accueille le public sur la scne du Thtre Maisonneuve, en compagnie de grands noms de la danse Montral. De retour sur la scne du Thtre Maisonneuve, en fin de journe, le public et les artistes sont convis une dernire danse contemporaine en ligne, sous la direction dHlne Blackburn et de Simon Ampleman.

Pour ne rien manquer, il faut consulter le site de Pas de danse, pas de vie! 2008, au www.quebecdanse.org, ainsi que le dpliant de lvnement distribu dans plusieurs lieux culturels.

Ailleurs au Qubec, des groupes de professionnels de la danse, sous la bannire Pas de danse, pas de vie!, marquent leur faon la Journe internationale de la danse. Dans plusieurs villes du Qubec, et mme Vancouver, plusieurs Traces chorgraphiques, tires du rpertoire du RQD, invitent les citoyens faire quelques pas de danse, quelques pas de vie, parmi bien dautres activits de danse.

***
Le Regroupement qubcois de la danse
Fond en 1984, le Regroupement qubcois de la danse (RQD) compte plus de 500 membres professionnels de la danse (interprtes, enseignants, chorgraphes, compagnies, diffuseurs, coles professionnelles, chercheurs). Il est fier de souligner la participation exceptionnelle des artistes de la danse cette nouvelle dition de Pas de danse, pas de vie! et remercie tous ses partenaires, en particulier la Place des Arts.

{ Tlcharger le communiqu (pdf) }

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Premier ministre, Anik Bissonnette et Marie Chouinard

Le premier ministre du Qubec, monsieur Jean Charest, en compagnie d'Anik Bissonnette, marraine de Pas de danse, pas de vie!, et de la chorgraphe Marie Chouinard, auteure de la Trace chorgraphique peinte devant le bureau du Conseil excutif. Photo: Sylvain Lgar

Laura et Sandrine

Laura Kienzle et Sandrine Bissonnette-Robitaille en improvisation sur la Trace chorgraphique. Photo: Sylvain Lgar
Hip-hop!

Sean Lafortune sur les mains et sous les regards attentifs d'autres jeunes: Thodore Chouinard-Pellerin, Laura Kienzle, Michael Jacques, Sandrine Bissonnette-Robitaille et Ziroil Aliou.
Photo: Sylvain Lgar

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:16 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

L'ORCHESTRE DE CHAMBRE McGILL prsente Le Quatuor cordes Escher dans leur dbut montralais

MONTRAL le 21 avril 2008

Communiqu de presse

L'ORCHESTRE DE CHAMBRE McGILL

prsente

Le Quatuor cordes Escher

Dans leur dbut montralais

Bons baisers de Vienne

Invit par l'OCM, le renomm Quatuor cordes Escher se produira le lundi 5 mai 2008 19 h 30 la salle Pollack.

Les membres du Quatuor sont : Adam Barnett-Hart (violon); Wu Jie (violon); Pierre Lapointe (alto); Andrew Janss (violoncelle)

Le jeune Quatuor cordes Escher a rapidement acquis une rputation de calibre mondial. Leur sonorit individuelle, leurs dcisions artistiques inspires et la cohsion unique du jeune ensemble ont immdiatement conquis Pinchas Zukerman et Itzhak Perlman, qui tous deux invitrent le Quatuor Escher a devenir quatuor en rsidence leur festival estival respectif. Le Quatuor cordes Escher prend son nom du graphiste hollandais M. C. Escher, reconnu pour sa mthode de lier des composantes individuelles pour former un tout.

Le Quatuor fera ses dbuts montralais lors de ce concert, bien que deux de ses membres connaissent bien Montral.

En 2004, l'altiste canadien Pierre Lapointe a reu un prix de la lieutenante-gouverneure du Qubec pour son travail au Conservatoire de musique de Gatineau. Avant cette distinction, l'Universit d'Ottawa lui avait dcern une mdaille d'or pour son diplme de premier cycle en composition et interprtation.

La violoniste Wu Jie est arrive Montral l'ge de 16 ans et a tudi auprs de Yuli et Eleanora Turovsky pendant deux ans avant de dmnager New York. Elle a acquis ses lettres de noblesse sur la scne musicale internationale tant comme soliste que chambriste. Pinchas Zukerman, avec lequel elle a tudi, a crit que : son talent est un cadeau pour nous tous .

En 1999, Wu Jie recevait le Premier Prix au Deuxime Concours international de violon d'Orford la suite de son interprtation poustouflante du concerto pour violon de Barber, diffuse la grandeur de la province de Qubec. Grce cette victoire, elle a t invite jouer avec l'Orchestre du CNA, I Musici de Montral, l'orchestre de l'cole FACE, ainsi qu'en tourne avec l'orchestre symphonique du Conservatoire de musique de Shanghai, et en rcital Montral, Ottawa, Shanghai et New York.

Voici le programme de la soire :

Alexander von ZEMLINSKY Quatuor cordes no 4, op. 25 (Suite)

Alexander von Zemlinsky a compos son Quatuor cordes, opus 25 pendant l't de 1936, bien qu'il a fallu attendre 1967 avant la premire. Un hommage son ami Alban Berg, dcd la veille de Nol 1935, Zemlinsky considrait cette pice comme une Suite. l'instar de la Suite lyrique de Berg, la Suite de Zemlinsky est en six parties, et construite en trois actes partageant un mme matriau thmatique et une structure qui opposent et font contraster les mouvements lents et rapides. L'uvre est en outre la parfaire illustration de l'tonnante matrise technique et de l'inventivit musicale d'un Zemlinsky en pleine maturit.

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Quatuor cordes en sol majeur, K. 387

mon cher ami Haydn. Un pre qui avait rsolu d'envoyer ses enfants la dcouverte du monde, les avait, selon son devoir, confis la protection et l'encadrement d'un Homme trs clbre, qui par trs bonne fortune, se trouvait par la mme occasion tre son meilleur Ami. Ainsi se lit l'inscription de Mozart sur le jeu de six superbes quatuors cordes composs entre 1782 et 1785, et qu'il avait ddicacs son ami et collgue, Josef Haydn.

Franz SCHUBERT Quatuor cordes en r mineur, D 810

La Jeune Fille et la Mort

Schubert a commenc composer son quatuor cordes ne r mineur en 1824, mais ne le complterait sa satisfaction qu'en fvrier 1826. L'uvre sera publie titre posthume en 1832. Le quatuor en r mineur doit son surnom La Jeune Fille et la Mort son deuxime mouvement dont le thme et les variations sont bass sur le Lied de Schubert Der Tod und das Mdchen (D.531) qu'il avait compos en 1817 sur un court pome de Mathias Claudius.

-30-

Les billets sont aux prix de 38 $ |30 $ | 25 $ |10 $/tudiants

Pour plus de renseignements : Susan McKinnon Bell, directrice administrative, 5459, avenue Earnscliffe, Montral, Qubec H3X 2P8

514-487-5190 | 514-487-7390 (fax) |514-830-6033 (cellulaire)
www.ocm-mco.org

sbell@ocm-mco.org

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ESCHER STRING QUARTET MARKS ITS MONTREAL DEBUT

MONTRAL April 21, 2008

Press Release

THE McGILL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Presents

The Escher String Quartet

In their Montral debut

"From Vienna With Love"

The world renowned Escher String Quartet, invited by the MCO, performs Monday, May 5, 2008 at 7:30 pm, in Pollack Hall.

Featured guests for the evening are Adam Barnett-Hart (Violin); Wu Jie (Violin); Pierre Lapointe (Viola); Andrew Janss (Cello)

The Escher String Quartet is a young quartet rapidly gaining world fame.

Both Pinchas Zukerman and Itzhak Perlman, who immediately admired the young ensemble's individual sound, inspired artistic decisions and unique cohesiveness, invited the Escher to be the quartet-in-residence at each artist's summer festival. In only a few years, the group has established a reputation as a world-class string quartet. The Escher String Quartet takes its name from Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher; inspired by Escher's method of interplay between individual components working together to form a whole.

The quartet will make their Montral debut with this concert, though at least two of its members are not exactly strangers to the city.

Canadian violist Pierre Lapointe received a prize in 2004 from the Lieutenant-Governor of Qubec for his work at the Gatineau Music Conservatory. Prior to this award, the University of Ottawa granted him a gold medal for his undergraduate degree in composition and violin performance.

Second Violinist Wu Jie moved to Montral at age 16 and studied with Yuli and Eleanora Turovsky for two years before moving to New York. She has garnered unprecedented international success as both a chamber and solo musician. She is a former student of Pinchas Zukerman, who wrote that "Her talent is a gift to us all."

In 1999 Wu Jie was awarded first prize at the Orford Second International Violin Competition with her stunning performance of the Barber violin concerto, which was broadcast across the province of Qubec. This prize led to her successful solo appearances with the NAC Orchestra, I Musici Chamber Orchestra, FACE orchestra and the European tour with the Shanghai Music Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, as well as solo recitals in Montral, Ottawa, Shanghai, and New York.

The program for the evening will feature the following works:

Alexander von ZEMLINSKY: String Quartet No. 4, Op. 25 (Suite)

Alexander von Zemlinsky composed his String Quartet, Opus 25 over the summer of 1936 though it had to wait until 1967 for its first performance. In a direct homage to his friend, Alban Berg, who had died on Christmas Eve 1935, Zemlinsky called this work his Suite. Like Berg's Lyric Suite, Zemlinsky's Suite is a work in six parts, constructed in three 'acts' with common thematic material and a structure that opposes and contrasts fast and slow movements. It also illustrates the astonishing technical mastery and musical inventiveness of Zemlinsky's mature writing,

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART: String Quartet in G major, K. 387

"To my dear friend Haydn," read the inscription. "A father who had resolved to send his children out into the great world took it to be his duty to confide them to the protection and guidance of a very celebrated Man, especially when the latter by good fortune was at the same time his best Friend." This is Mozart's inscription for the set of six superb string quartets that he composed between 1782 and 1785 and that he dedicated to his friend and colleague, Josef Haydn.

Franz SCHUBERT: String Quartet in D minor, D. 810

"Death and the Maiden"

Schubert began his D-minor string quartet in 1824 but did not complete it to his satisfaction until February 1826. It was published posthumously in 1832. The D-minor quartet owes its nickname of the Death and the Maiden quartet to its second movement whose theme and variations are based on Schubert's lied, Der Tod und das Mdchen (D.531) that he had composed in 1817 on a short poem by Mathias Claudius

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Tickets are $38 |$30 | $25 |$10/Students

For more information: Susan McKinnon Bell, Executive Director

5459 Earnscliffe Avenue, Montral, Qubec H3X 2P8

514-487-5190 | 514-487-7390 (fax) |514-830-6033 (cell)
www.ocm-mco.org

sbell@ocm-mco.org

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:14 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Monday, April 21, 2008

Former CBC producer Joe Fingerote joins Honens

news release
for immediate Release

Monday, April 21, 2008 - Joe Fingerote, Executive Producer of Radio Music, Arts, and Entertainment for CBC Alberta, will join the management of Honens International Piano Competition as Director, Recording and Online Development in June.

Producer and host of numerous CBC Radio shows including Arts Encounters, Shaken Not Stirred, Shuffle, and guest host of In Performance, Joe Fingerote will lead Honens' live recording, and internet-based broadcasting projects.

"With the changing landscape of classical music broadcasting and the emerging ease of online music streaming, a door has opened for Honens," said Stephen McHolm, Honens' Executive Director. "We will soon make hundreds of concerts from past Honens International Piano Competitions available for streaming, and share the incredible talents of Honens laureates through online broadcasts of their recordings and performances from around the world. We're thrilled that Joe will lead this charge."

Commenting on his new position, Fingerote said, "Honens is recognized for its creativity, imagination and integrity. My goal is to bring this important music institution to a much wider, global audience."

Honens is Canada's leading presenter of music for piano. Every year, Honens produces and supports more than 100 concert, education and outreach events in Calgary, across Canada and around the globe. The triennial Honens International Piano Competition is one of the world's great music competitions.

Joe Fingerote
Director, Recording and Online Development

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Joe Fingerote aspired to a career in music from an early age. He studied both piano and cello, completing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Manitoba. During his undergraduate studies, Fingerote found that his love of music was matched by his interest in audio and electronics. This discovery launched his career as a music producer and recording engineer. Still an undergraduate student, he joined the CBC Radio Music department in Winnipeg where he worked on live music recordings of all kinds, in addition to daily music programs. His first assignment was the classical music request show RSVP. Fingerote maintained his work at CBC while continuing his studies in music and sound, first at The Banff Centre, and later at McGill University. In 1999, while his work as a producer continued behind the scenes, he began hosting regional and national programs on CBC Radio 2. In 2005 Fingerote moved to Edmonton to take on the role of Executive Producer for CBC Radio Music in Alberta and led the Radio Music teams in Edmonton and Calgary as they launched several new programs for CBC Radio 2.

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Julie Wright
Honens
403 299 0130 x 138
jwright@honens.com
honens.com

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Madame Butterfly de Giacomo Puccini

Une production Opera Australia la salle Wilfrid-Pelletier de la Place des Arts les 24, 28 mai, 2, 5, 7 juin 2008 20 h + 31 mai 2008 14 h

Billetterie : PdA (514) 842-2112 | 1 866 842-2112
InfOpra : operademontreal.com

Montral, lundi 21 avril 2008 Aprs lblouissant Lakm, lOpra de Montral prsente, pour clore sa 28e saison, une seconde production lumineuse dOpera Australia : Madame Butterfly (Madama Butterfly), tragdie japonaise en trois actes du grand Giacomo Puccini, le matre de lmotion musicale. Dans le rle-titre, la soprano japonaise la voix dor Hiromi Omura qui fait ses dbuts nord-amricains la compagnie, aprs avoir chant le rle au Deutsche Oper de Berlin. ses cts, le tnor amricain Richard Troxell, en lieutenant Pinkerton, rle quil interprtait dans le film ponyme de Frdric Mitterand. Pour complter la distribution, le baryton canadien James Westman - que lon a pu entendre dans le rle de Frdric (Lakm) - sera Sharpless, le consul amricain Nagasaki, Annamaria Popescu, mezzo-soprano canadienne au timbre soyeux, revient la compagnie en Suzuki, la servante de Cio-Cio-San, rle dont elle est la dtentrice La Scala de Milan, et le tnor amricain Jon Kolbet sera Goro, et Le Bonze, la basse amricaine Young-Bok Kim.

Yannick Nzet-Sguin dirigera cette uvre pour la premire fois et sera la tte de son ensemble, lOrchestre Mtropolitain du Grand Montral, et du Chur de lOpra de Montral tous les soirs de reprsentations, except le 31 mai qui sera sous la baguette de Giuseppe Pietraroia. La mise en scne est de lAustralien Moffatt Oxenbould, aux cts dune quipe de concepteurs dOpera Australia : Peter England (dcors) ; Russell Cohen (costumes) ; Robert Bryan (clairages).

Lternel retourĶ ou les ailes brises du papillon au pays du soleil levant.

Au dbut du XXe sicle, un jeune lieutenant amricain de passage Nagasaki, Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, pouse une geisha, Cio-Cio-San surnomme Madame Butterfly. Simple fantaisie exotique sans lendemain pour lui, le mariage est pris trs au srieux par la jeune Japonaise qui sest convertie au Dieu des Amricains par amour pour lui, dshonorant la religion de ses anctres. Son oncle la maudit. Aprs la crmonie, Pinkerton repart sur les mers. Convaincue de son retour la saison o les rouge-gorges font leur nid , elle lattend, imperturbable, conduisant de nombreux prtendants. Trois ans se sont couls, le lieutenant na donn aucune nouvelle et le chagrin de la jeune femme est immense. Sa situation financire sest dgrade. Seule sa fidle servante Suzuki est reste auprs delle.

Sharpless, le consul amricain, essaie de la convaincre de renoncer cet amour, mais Butterfly demeure convaincue que Pinkerton reviendra lorsquil connatra lexistence de leur fils. mu, Sharpless sen va, sans avoir os dire Butterfly que le lieutenant sest remari avec une Amricaine. Dans le port, le bateau de son mari apparatra lhorizon. Dlirante de joie, Cio-Cio-San ordonne Suzuki de laider dcorer la maison de fleurs et shabille comme au premier jour pour laccueillir. Elle lattend en vain jusquau lever du jour et sendort, puise. Sharpless, Pinkerton et sa nouvelle pouse arrivent alors. Il demande Suzuki de lui confier lenfant pour assurer son avenir. Butterfly se rveille, aperoit ltrangre et comprend enfin la vrit. Dsespre, elle consent confier son enfant son pre condition quil vienne le chercher lui-mme. Butterfly fait ses adieux son fils et dcide de quitter ce monde dignement, selon lantique tradition japonaise.

Giacomo Puccini (Lucques, 1858 Bruxelles, 1924) - Peintre de lme humaine

Cest une reprsentation dAda de Verdi qui dcida de la vocation de Puccini comme compositeur dopras. Luigi Illica et Giuseppe Giacosa cosigneront les livrets de ses grands succs populaires : La bohme (1896), Tosca (1900) et Madame Butterfly (1904). Ses uvres ont t prsentes sur les plus grandes scnes dopra et feront de Puccini le compositeur le plus populaire de ce dbut du sicle. Ses opras tmoignent dun instinct thtral, dinventions mlodiques somptueuses et dinnovations musicales. Son got prononc pour la mlancolie sexprime au travers dune harmonie chatoyante.

Madame Butterfly (Madama Butterfly)
Tragdie japonaise en trois actes de Giacomo Puccini, en italien, avec surtitres franais et anglais
Livret : Giuseppe Giacosa et Luigi Illica daprs la pice de David Belasco, sur une nouvelle de John Luther Long.
Cration : Milan, Teatro alla Scala, 17 fvrier 1904
Dernire production lOpra de Montral : septembre 2002
PrOpra (Prsentation de luvre par Pierre Vachon) : 18 h 30 / 12 h 30 (matine) Piano Nobile


Distribution

Cio-Cio-San
HIROMI OMURA, soprano (Japon)
Laurate de nombreux prix, ses emplois sont : Hro (Batrice et Bndict, Opra-Comique), Violetta (La traviata), la Comtesse (Les noces de Figaro) Toyama au Japon, Butterfly Amiens, Micala (Carmen) lOpra national de Tokyo. En juillet 2005, elle y triomphe dans Butterfly de mme qu lOpra de Metz. En 2006, elle chante Li (Turandot) au New Year Opera Gala Concert (mission en direct de NHK) Tokyo, Nedda (Pagliacci) au Nouveau thtre national de Tokyo, et remporte un brillant succs avec le rle dElizabetta di Valois (Don Carlo). Parmi ses projets : Silvia dans Zanetto (Mascagni) lOpra national de Lorraine, puis des dbuts au Deutsche Oper de Berlin en janvier 2008 dans le rle de Madame Butterfly. Fait ses dbuts la compagnie.

B. F. Pinkerton
RICHARD TROXELL, tnor (tats-Unis)
Ses emplois : Pinkerton (Madame Butterfly) au Los Angeles Opera et au Washington Opera, Hoffmann (Les contes dHoffmann) au Houston Grand Opera, le Tnor italien (Le chevalier la rose) au Vancouver Opera, Zampa (Zampa) lOpra-Comique et Christian (Cyrano de Bergerac) lOpra de Monte Carlo. Il se produit aussi au New York City Opera, New Zealand Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis et au Spoleto Festival USA. Il incarne Pinkerton dans la version filme de Madame Butterfly de Frdric Mitterand. Dernire prsence la compagnie : Le Gala, 1re dition (1996).

Sharpless
JAMES WESTMAN, baryton (Canada)
James Westman a chant les grands rles de Verdi, Puccini, Massenet, Donizetti, Janacek, Bizet, Britten et Mozart sur plusieurs grandes scnes dEurope et dAmrique du Nord dont celles des Houston Grand Opera, San Francisco Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, New York City Opera, Dallas Opera, Canadian Opera Company et Wexford Festival. Rcemment : Marcello (La bohme) au New York City Opera, Germont (La traviata) au English National Opera, Ford (Falstaff) au Houston Grand Opera et Talbot (Maria Stuarda) au Dallas Opera. Prochainement, il sera Sharpless au Lyric Opera de Chicago. Dernire prsence la compagnie : Lakm (2007).

Suzuki
ANNAMARIA POPESCU, mezzo-soprano (Canada)
Technique raffine, timbre soyeux et chaleureux, elle chante dans une douzaine de productions La Scala, en plus de se produire en Europe, en Asie et en Amrique du Nord. Ses rles : Dorabella (Cos fan tutte), Olga (Eugne Onguine), Meg Page (Falstaff), Suzuki (Madame Butterfly) et Anna (Les Troyens). Elle chante sous la direction de chefs prestigieux tels Riccardo Muti, Sir Colin Davis, Bruno Bartoletti, Charles Dutoit, Andrew Davis, Michael Tilson Thomas, Christoph Eschenbach et plusieurs autres. Rcemment, elle chantait Suzuki La Scala. Dernire prsence la compagnie : La Gioconda (1999).

Goro
JON KOLBET, tnor (tats-Unis)
Ses rles : Monostatos (La flte enchante), Mosquito/Matre dcole (Le petite renarde ruse) et Basilio (Les noces de Figaro) au Houston Grand Opera, Goro (Madame Butterfly) au San Francisco Opera, Don Curzio (Les noces de Figaro) au Los Angeles Opera, un Juif (Salome) au New York City Opera, Red Whiskers (Billy Budd) au Washington Opera, Dr. Caius (Falstaff) au Florentine Opera Company, Little Bat (Susannah) au Kentucky Opera, les Quatre serviteurs (Les contes dHoffmann) au Fort Worth Opera, Tybalt (Romo et Juliette) Opera Carolina et le rle-titre dans The Impresario au Connecticut Grand Opera. Fait ses dbuts la compagnie.

Le Bonze
YOUNG-BOK KIM, basse (tats-Unis)
Young-Bok Kim a rcemment bloui le public et les critiques dans Colline (La bohme) et Le Bonze (Madame Butterfly) au New York City Opera, Silva (Ernani) Opera Boston, Massimiliano (I Masnadieri), Nilakantha (Lakm) et Sarastro (La flte enchante) au Sarasota Opera; Ramfis (Aida) avec le Arkansas Symphony Orchestra; Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor) avec le Nashville Opera et Aspen Opera Theater Center; Timur (Turandot) au Nevada Opera; un Vieillard hbreu (Samson et Dalila) avec lEl Paso Opera; Basilio (Le barbier de Sville) pour ses dbuts au Dallas Opera; et le Bonze (Madame Butterfly) au Greensboro Opera. Il chante galement au New York City Opera dans La traviata et Madame Butterfly. Fait ses dbuts la compagnie.

Chef dorchestre
YANNICK NZET-SGUIN (Canada)
Directeur musical de lOrchestre Mtropolitain, il dirige frquemment lOpra de Montral. Nouvellement nomm directeur musical de lOrchestre philharmonique de Rotterdam en 2008, il dirige la plupart des orchestres canadiens et a fait ses dbuts europens avec lOrchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. Depuis, les invitations diriger se sont multiplies. Prochainement, il dirigera Romo et Juliette au Festival de Salzbourg. Dernire prsence la compagnie : Turandot (2004).

Chef dorchestre (31 mai)
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA (Canada)
Chef en rsidence du McGill University Orchestra en 2000-2001, il a t chef assistant pour Faust prsente en 1996 Opera Lyra, Ottawa, et plusieurs productions de Pacific Opera Victoria telles Un bal masqu, Tosca et Werther; il y a aussi dirig Le barbier de Sville, La traviata, La bohme et Lucia di Lammermoor. En 2001, il dirigeait la cration de Eyes on the Mountain, produit par le Victoria Conservatory of Musics Opera Studio. Il a t chef invit Orchestra London et lors du Festival de Lachine Montral. Il est prsentement Chef en rsidence du Pacific Opera Victoria et du Victoria Symphony. Fait ses dbuts la compagnie.

Metteur en scne
MOFFATT OXENBOULD (Australie)
Il contribue de manire importante au dveloppement de lopra en Australie depuis une trentaine dannes. De 1984 1999, il est directeur artistique dOpera Australia. Il a mis en scne plusieurs uvres dont Turandot, Il trittico, Le viol de Lucrce, Pagliacci, Semiramide, La clmence de Titus, Madame Butterfly et Simon Boccanegra. En 2005, il mettait en scne Idomne au Houston Grand Opera et remontait sa production de La bohme au State Opera of South Australia. Fait ses dbuts la compagnie.

Billetterie : PdA (514) 842-2112 | 1 866 842-2112
InfOpra : operademontreal.com


Le visuel de laffiche de cette production, des photos des solistes (en haute rsolution), ainsi que le communiqu sont disponibles
sur le site de lOpra de Montral. Lhyperlien donnant accs directement la section MDIAS est le suivant : http://operademontreal.com/pages/medias/ Cliquez sur : saison 07-08 puis sur Madame Butterfly | |
code utilisateur : media [sans accent] | | mot de passe : 47opera08 [sans accent]

Prochain rendez-vous : 29e saison 0809
La Fanciulla del West (La fille du Far West) de Puccini
Nouvelle production | 20, 24, 27, 29 septembre, 2 octobre 2008 20 h
Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier de la Place des Arts (PDA)
Mise en scne, Thaddeus Strassberger
Direction, Keri-Lynn Wilson Orchestre Mtropolitain du Grand Montral

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 3:25 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Pacific Opera Victoria's Opera-in-Schools program presents an opera

Elijah's Kite, a new opera by Canadian creators James Rolfe, composer, and Camyar Chai, librettist, examines the critical issue of bullying. Throughout the month of May, Pacific Opera Victoria will present Elijah's Kite to more than 7,000 students in 30 elementary and middle schools on southern Vancouver Island.

The opera is set in a playground full of kids, where nine-year old Elijah is lonely and frightened of Big Billy Brett, the school bully. Elijah brings his favourite kite to school and dreams of flying away. He soon meets Miriam, the new girl in school, who's not afraid of Billy, but she becomes a bully too and Elijah is once again on his own. By the end of the opera, the kids all learn how to turn something negative into something good, and discover that co-operation can make Elijah's kite fly.

Elijah's Kite, a co-production between the Manhattan School of Music and Toronto's Tapestry New Opera, premiered in New York City on April 9, 2006. It had its Canadian premiere in November 2006 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa for Governor General Michalle Jean and an audience of school children. Since then it has been performed for thousands of kids across Ontario, and this production marks its West Coast premiere.

The opera was created in consultation with PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network), an active network of Canadian researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments working together to promote safe and healthy relationships for all Canadian children and youth.

A study guide, developed by Katherine McKenney and Debra Pepler of York University in collaboration with Pat McCarthy, outlines classroom activities to animate discussion and build understanding about bullying, as well as about the role of arts and theatre in our lives.

In addition, Pacific Opera Victoria is working in partnership with the University of Victoria's Centre for Youth and Society, directed by Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater, to develop additional teacher training and classroom resources for the Elijah's Kite school tour. The two organizations hosted a workshop for local educators on Wednesday evening, April 9, 2008, to discuss the opera and its relevance to teachers and students in elementary and middle schools. A second workshop will be held on April 30.

The tour of Elijah's Kite marks the beginning of a new approach to POV's in-school programming. "Our Opera-in-the-schools program will deliver in three key areas", notes David Shefsiek, Pacific Opera Victoria's Executive Director. "It will support educators in their work in the classroom, demonstrate how the arts can highlight relevant issues that affect our lives, and continue to engage children in the power of opera."

The Victoria Foundation's Vital Signs report shows that 30.5% of 18 year olds in the province do not graduate high school. Through the themes of Elijah's Kite, Pacific Opera Victoria hopes to make a contribution toward engendering a more hospitable environment in our classrooms and
schoolyards.

Elijah's Kite features five pre-professional opera singers from Vancouver Island, and three musicians (piano, bass and percussion). The Opera-in-Schools tour forms a large part of POV's Young Artist Program, which also offers professional and career development opportunities to the five singers, with coaching and classes by vocal coaches Theresa Turgeon and Kathleen Brett, director and choreographer Jacques Lemay, and others.


Elijah's Kite Company

Stage director: Alison Greene
Music director: Giuseppe Pietraroia
Stage designer: Ian Rye
Stage manager: Steve Barker
Cast: Isaiah Bell, Michaela Dickey, Aaron Ferguson, Kathryn Humphries and Tamara Rusque
Musicians: Susu Robin, Kelby MacNayr and Sean Drabitt

Pacific Opera Victoria's school tour is made possible with the generous support of RBC Foundation, our Education Underwriter, TELUS, our Youth Programs Sponsor, and the Canada Council for the Arts Supplementary Operating Funds Initiative. Tour sponsors include Success by 6, the Centre for Youth and Society, RBC Dominion Securities, the Victoria Foundation, the Anne McLaughlin Fund, and the Hamber Foundation. Transportation Sponsor is Budget Car and Truck Rental.

For more information about Pacific Opera Victoria, and the Opera in Schools program, visit www.pov.bc.ca or call 250-382-1641. Designated school representatives interested in a performance of Elijah's Kite may contact Pacific Opera Victoria at 250-382-1641.

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Sunday, April 20, 2008

Edmonton Opera's 2008/09 Season - Fall In Love

Media Release

For immediate release: April 20, 2008

Media contact: Liz Lepper, Bottom Line Productions

P: 780.988.8914 x 3 | E: liz@bottomlinepro.com

Fall In Love with Opera

Edmonton, AB Edmonton Opera's 2008/2009 season explores love in all its glory, hilarity, power and sorrow. Wagner's The Flying Dutchman delves into haunting and redemptive love; Donizetti's Daughter of the Regiment takes to us the silly side of love in the military; Verdi's classic La Traviata transports audiences to the glittering world of 19th century Paris for a tale of love and loss; and Bizet's The Pearl Fishers portrays the conflict and ensuing sacrifice when friendship collides with love.

A haunting production rooted in German Expressionist cinema, Wagner's masterpiece The Flying Dutchman will astound Edmonton Opera audiences for the first time in 20 years. With music that perfectly evokes a raging storm, Dutchman is the tale of a ship's captain doomed to sail the seas for eternity in search of faithful love. Jason Howard and Susan Marie Pierson, the artists who sparked audiences' excitement in Bluebeard's Castle & Ewartung, reunite to bring Wagner's genius to life. Marc Embree, Scott Scully and Emilia Boteva join Director Brian Deedrick and Conductor John Keenan in the new season's opening production. The Flying Dutchman runs October 25, 28 and 30, 2008, and is sung in German with English supertitles.

Edmonton Opera escapes winter with joyous laughter at military mayhem, as an exuberant 'band of brothers' joins its adopted 'daughter' Marie in Donizetti's Daughter of the Regiment. When Marie must decide between her love for the regiment, (yes, the whole regiment), and her love for Tonio, hilarity ensues. Rob Herriot, director of H.M.S. PINAFORE, is joined by Andriana Chuchman, Colin Ainsworth, Theodore Baerg, Sonya Gosse, Chad Louwerse, and Conductor Peter Dala. Daughter of the Regiment runs February 7, 10 and 12, 2009, and is sung in French with English supertitles.

The opera season closes with Verdi's beloved and heart-wrenching La Traviata. Alberta-born Laura Whalen takes on the tragic role of Violetta, the famed courtesan who loses everything in her love for Alfredo. Edmonton Opera also welcomes the return of Theodore Baerg, Qubecois star Marc Hervieux, Thomas Macleay, Doug MacNaughton, Alain Coulombe, Krista de Silva, Alexander Dobson, Rene Brad, Director Michael Cavanagh and Conductor Steven Osgood. La Traviata runs April 25, 28 and 30, 2009, and is sung in Italian with English supertitles.

On a journey to an exotic island in the Indian Ocean, Edmonton Opera goes beyond its three Jubilee Auditorium productions this season. A special presentation of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers brings a tale of love, friendship, betrayal and sacrifice to the intimate acoustical splendour of the Winspear Centre. Colin Ainsworth, Gregory Dahl, Amy Hansen, and Andrew Stewart join Director Brian Deedrick and Conductor Robert Dean for this two-night production. The Pearl Fishers runs March 12 and 14, 2009, and is sung in French with English supertitles.

"Opera is the greatest and grandest art form of them all," says Brian Deedrick, Edmonton Opera's Artistic Director. "We laugh, we cry, we lose ourselves in the sublime beauty of the music, we succumb to the world being created before us on the stageĶ For once, even I'm hard-pressed to come up with words to describe the all-encompassing experience of opera. I urge and invite everyone to fall deeply and deeper in love with this wonderful art form. Fall in love with the music and the stories that sing. Fall in love with the brilliant artists sharing their talents on stage. Fall in love with the excitement. Fall in love with Edmonton Opera!"

All performances begin at 7:30pm and take place at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, with the exception of The Pearl Fishers at the Winspear Centre. Subscriptions are available through the Edmonton Opera Box Office, call (780) 429-1000. The deadline to renew current subscriptions is June 6, 2008. For more information or to download a subscription form, please visit www.edmontonopera.com.


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Friday, April 18, 2008

SOUND ADVICE with Rick Phillips to be Streamed on Universal Musics UMUSIC.CA from April 22, 2008

Toronto, April 21, 2008 - Universal Music Canada is pleased to announce that Rick Phillips' SOUND ADVICE, will begin streaming on www.umusic.ca from April 22, 2008.

Phillips' popular show SOUND ADVICE, which aired on CBC Radio for 14 seasons, ended its run this past March. The show's programming, so beloved by his listeners, will continue in the new streaming format. The first portion of his program will consist of recent release reviews critiqued using his star rating system. The second portion will continue with The Library, an in-depth look at an artist or repertoire of special interest.

The new program will be bi-weekly and it will be posted on alternate Tuesdays coinciding with the new release Tuesdays established by the recording industry. SOUND ADVICE will feature solo, chamber and orchestral music as well as featuring more vocal, choral and operatic fare than his previous show.

Says Phillips, "It is a great pleasure to be continuing SOUND ADVICE with Universal Music Canada and to have the show archived and available on demand, allowing audiences to listen at their convenience.

Thom McKercher, Director of Classics and Jazz added "We are pleased to announce that Rick has joined the Universal family. Having listened to his show for years, I know we are working with a professional critic who knows recorded music as well as anyone in Canada".

Also, the ever popular Music Quiz portion of the program remains intact with a prize being awarded every show.

About Rick Phillips

For 14 years, Rick Phillips was the Host and Producer of SOUND ADVICE, the weekly guide to classical music and recordings on CBC Radio One and Radio Two. Rick continues to offer adult music appreciation courses at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto. He is the author of "The Essential Classical Recordings -101 CDs" published by McClelland & Stewart with an accompanying soundtrack distributed by Universal Music Canada. Rick also writes program notes and music-related articles, hosts concerts and guided musical tours to Europe, and presents pre-concert talks. He holds a B. Mus. from McGill University and a M. Mus. from the University of Toronto.

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PSO 2007-08 Season Concludes with Robert Moody Conducting, May 6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2008

CONTACT:
Amanda Flanagan, 207-775-2126 ext. 121
gBritt PR


PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2007-2008 SEASON CONCLUDES WITH ROBERT MOODY CONDUCTING TUESDAY MAY 6

PORTLAND, Maine The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO)'s 2007-08 season will close with a spectacular concert conducted by incoming PSO Music Director Designate Robert Moody on Tuesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Seating for this concert is extremely limited. Ticket holders are invited to attend the Concert Conversation at 6:15 p.m. in the Rehearsal Hall, led by Maestro Moody.

The program opens with PHOENIX for orchestra, a work premiered by Robert Moody in 2007. Internationally recognized composer Dan Locklair's music has been performed throughout Europe and North America by many major orchestras, choral groups, chamber ensembles and soloists.

Cellist Denise Djokic, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, will join PSO as guest soloist on Franz Joseph Haydn's Cello Concerto in D Major. Already one of the most captivating young artists of her generation, Djokic has thrilled audiences and critics worldwide with the passion, vigor, and sensitivity of her playing. She has performed as guest soloist with every leading orchestra in Canada as well as many in the US and Mexico, and has toured Canada extensively, during which she was featured as the subject of the documentary film "Seven Days, Seven Nights." Her 2002 debut recording won her an East Coast Music Award for "Best Classical Recording of the Year," and during the same year, Djokic was a featured performer at the Grammy Awards. She was named by MacLean's magazine as one of "25 Young Canadians who are changing our World," and by ELLE magazine as one of "Canada's 30 most Powerful Women."

The PSO's 2007-2008 season will close with Gustav Mahler's spectacular Symphony No. 1. Always a delight for symphony devotees and neophytes alike, the renowned piece was described by composer Arnold Schoenberg as, "Ķa stretch of wild and secret country, with eerie chasms and abysses neighbored by sunlit, smiling meadows, haunts of idyllic repose. Ķan event of Nature, which after scouring us with its terrors puts a rainbow in the sky."

The May 6th concert is sponsored by the Canadian Consulate General.

The night before this concert, May 5, Robert Moody will conduct another performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 1 in a special PSO Podium Prelude Concert. The event is designed to introduce Portland and the southern Maine community to incoming Music Director Moody with this celebrated piece of music. Tickets are still available for this hour-long performance at the special low price of $25 for any seat in the house.


Tickets for all PSO performances are available now through www.porttix.com, by phone at 207-842-0800, or at the PortTix box office, 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

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En mai, La Scena Musicale mettra laccent sur le jazz, avec le Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra et notre rpertoire annuel des festivals dt canadiens

(English version)

Ce numro vous invitera revisiter le jazz au pass, et le vivre au prsent et au futur. Paul Serralheiro vous fera parcourir lhistoire du Big Band avec Ted Nash, une personnalit importante du Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, sous la direction de nul autre que Wynton Marsalis. Cet ensemble de renomme mondiale est rest fidle aux racines et traditions du genre. Pendant la dure de son engagement au sein de cet ensemble, Ted Nash sest forg une place importante en tant que compositeur, arrangeur et saxophoniste virtuose.

Notre chroniqueur de jazz, Marc Chnard, explorera les possibilits plus contemporaines des orchestres de jazz, qui les rapprochent des ensembles de musique classique contemporaine. Nous tenterons de dmler la terminologie : par exemple, devrait-on parler de Big Bands ou d'orchestres de jazz ? Dans notre rpertoire annuel, nous accueillerons la belle saison avec un vaste choix de festivals de jazz d't travers le Canada; ensuite, Marc Chnard vous livrera ses choix.

LSM est fire de son rle primordial dans la promotion des festivals dt, et en complment du jazz, la section "rpertoire des festivals" comprendra aussi les festivals de musique du monde et de musique folklorique. Nous publierons galement un rpertoire des compagnies qui offrent des abonnements de saison 2008-2009. N'oubliez pas quen juin, nous publierons notre rpertoire annuel des festivals canadiens d't de musique classique. Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez consulter :

Nous avons invit quelques chefs dorchestre canadiens, parmi les plus respects, partager leurs penses sur lhritage musical de Herbert von Karajan, loccasion de son 100e anniversaire de naissance. Sa longue association avec lOrchestre Philharmonique de Berlin, sa discographie vaste, et toute sa carrire en gnral sont tout simplement stupfiantes. Encore ce jour, il est lartiste qui a vendu le plus de disques de musique classique. Pourtant, son engagement politique auprs du parti Nazi en dbut de carrire a suscit bien des dbats. Dans le mme numro, nous entamerons une srie darticles sur Puccini, dont on fte le 150e anniversaire de naissance en 2008.

Ne manquez pas le Concours Musical International de Montral, qui accueillera cette anne les meilleurs jeunes pianistes. Comme toujours, vous y trouverez notre recension des nouveaux CD et DVD, ainsi que notre Calendrier rgional mensuel.

La Scena Musicale : mai 2008
dition nationale 50,000 copies (100,000 lecteurs)

dition Qubec

  • Qubec : 2 500
  • Montral : 18,500
  • En kiosque : 2,000
  • Abonnements : 2,000

dition Canada anglais

  • Vancouver : 4,500
  • Victoria : 2,500
  • Calgary : 2,500
  • Edmonton : 2,500
  • Ottawa : 3,000
  • Toronto : 10,000

Sortie : le 2 mai
Tombe publicitaire : le 25 avril
Maquettes : le 28 avril (graf@scena.org)

La Scena Musicale : juin 2008
dition nationale 50,000 copies (100,000 lecteurs)

dition Qubec

  • Qubec : 2 500
  • Montral : 18,500
  • En kiosque : 2,000
  • Abonnements : 2,000

dition Canada anglais

  • Vancouver : 4,500
  • Victoria : 2,500
  • Calgary : 2,500
  • Edmonton : 2,500
  • Ottawa : 3,000
  • Toronto : 10,000

Sortie : le 1 juin
Tombe publicitaire : le 19 mai
Maquettes : le 20 mai


La Scena Musicale : juillet/aot 2008

50 000 lecteurs
Distribution : 25 000

  • Montral : 20 500
  • Qubec : 500
  • En kiosque : 2000
  • Abonnements : 2000

Sortie : le 1 juillet
Tombe publicitaire : le 16 juilllet
Maquettes : le 18 juillet

Festivals
Au sujet des festivals de musique et des arts, La Scena Musicale, La SCENA et The Music Scene sont les ressources consulter pour trouver les festivals de musique et des arts internationaux et canadiens en 2008 (en imprim et en ligne). Les numros suivants couvriront tous les festivals de 2008 :

  • Festivals internationaux de musique et des arts : numro de printemps 2008 de The Music Scene et numro de printemps 2008 de La SCENA (comprenant le numro davril de La Scena Musicale).
  • Festivals canadiens de jazz, de musique du monde et folk : numro de mai 2008 de La Scena Musicale. Cest un numro national (distribution double 50 000 exemplaires) et les tarifs publicitaires sont 1,5 fois les tarifs habituels.
  • Festivals canadiens de musique classique et des arts : numro dt 2008 de La SCENA (comprenant le numro de juin de La Scena Musicale). Cest un numro national (distribution double 50 000 exemplaires) et les tarifs publicitaires sont 1,5 fois les tarifs habituels.
  • Voir http://ads.scena.org pour plus dinformation.
  • Pour inscrire votre festival, visitez cette page

Nouveauts chez www.scena.org: blogue et fil de presse!

Nous sommes fiers de prsenter le blogue de La Scena Musicale (www.scena.org/blog), idal pour trouver les commentaires et les nouvelles de la musique et des arts au Canada et travers le monde. Nos journalistes affichent trs rgulirement les actualits en musique. Nous vous invitons galement dcouvrir notre blogue de fil de presse, www.scena.org/blog/newswire, un nouveau service pour les organisations des arts qui veulent afficher leurs communiqus. Les dtails des concerts, les diffusions la radio et la tlvision, les vnements des arts en ligne... vous y trouverez tout cela !

Pourquoi passer une annonce dans La SCENA/La Scena Musicale ? Trouvez les consommateurs canadiens les plus friands de culture

Vous dsirez trouver des lecteurs de 35 ans et plus avertis et plus l'aise financirement que la moyenne ? Ou bien des musiciens/artistes professionnels et les tudiants ?

La Scena Musicale vous invite chez 100 000 Canadiens duqus, mlomanes, passionns de culture. Nos lecteurs s'intressent la musique, la danse, le thtre, le cinma, les arts visuels, la cuisine et la mode.

Nos revues renommes La Scena Musicale, La SCENA et The Music Scene publient des articles et critiques qui font rflchir. La Scena Musicale et La SCENA sont les seules publications bilingues Montral consacres la musique de concert (classique, jazz et musiques du monde) et aux arts et la culture (la musique, la danse, le thtre, le cinma et les arts visuels). En plus, le calendrier culturel le plus complet au Canada assure que la lecture sera rpte (plus que 225 000 par mois).

Pour plus d'information sur les tarifs de publicit et la production, veuillez visiter http://ads.scena.org ou contacter notre service des ventes au 514-948-2520 ou sales@scena.org.

Don La Scena Musicale

La Scena Musicale est la recherche de deux ordinateurs PC usags (vieux de 3 5 ans) qu'on serait prt donner pour son personnel. LSM est prte mettre un reu d'impt pour ce don.
 Contact : 514-948-2520 ou info@scena.org
(no. 14199 6579 RR0001)

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Prochain activit bnfice de La Scena Musicale

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May's La Scena Musicale puts the accent on jazz with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Canadian jazz, world and folk festivals!

(Version franaise)

La Scena Musicale's next issue invites you to take a closer look at the past, present and future of jazz. Paul Serralheiro investigates the history of the big band with Ted Nash, a prominent member of Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra; led by artistic director Wynton Marsalis, the orchestra is a world-class ensemble that has remained faithful to the roots and tradition of the idiom. During Mr. Nash's tenure with this group, he has become one of its most crucial members as a composer, an arranger and a remarkably virtuosic saxophonist. LSM jazz editor Marc Chnard will explore the more contemporary possibilities afforded by a jazz orchestra, as its sonic possibilities today have stretched almost into the realm of a classical contemporary music ensemble. With all this terminology being tossed around, we should ask the question: is it a big band or a jazz orchestra? We'll fill you in on that as well. As May unfolds, we begin to anticipate the hot summer months ahead, which of course means a wide variety of festivals from which to choose! In keeping with the focus on jazz this month, Marc Chnard will bring you his picks for jazz festivals happening across the country this summer.

LSM prides itself on its leading role in promoting festivals and, in addition to jazz, this month's festival guides will cover summer festivals of world and folk music. May will also feature a guide to subscriptions for the 2008-09 season. Keep an eye out for our summer classical festival guide in June. For more information on these guides, please consult:

We have invited some of Canada's most esteemed conductors to share their thoughts on the legacy of Herbert von Karajan for the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth this year. His association with the Berlin Philharmonic and his achievements as a recording artist (he is still, to this day, the top-selling classical recording artist in history) are staggering. Still, his political ties to the Nazi party early on in his career have raised some eyebrows and sparked a debate on this matter. We will begin a new in-depth series on Puccini this month; keep your eyes open for reviews, features, and more.

Stay tuned as well for a look at the piano in time with the Montreal International Musical Competition, which features pianists this year. As always, you can check out our reviews of the latest CD and DVD releases and leaf through our extensive May regional music calendar.

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La Scena Musicale: May 2008 National Edition

50,000 copies (100,000 readers)

Quebec Edition (25,000 copies)

  • Qubec City: 2 500
  • Montreal: 18,500
  • Newsstands: 2,000
  • Mailing: 2,000

English Canada Edition (25,000 copies)

  • Vancouver: 4,500
  • Victoria: 2,500
  • Calgary: 2,500
  • Edmonton: 2,500
  • Ottawa: 3,000
  • Toronto: 10,000

Distribution date: May 2, 2008
Advertising Deadline: April 25
 Materials: April 28 (graf@scena.org)

La Scena Musicale: June 2008 National Edition

  • Guides to classical music and arts festivals
  • Subscription Guide

50,000 copies (100,000 readers)

Quebec Edition (25,000 copies)

  • Qubec City: 2 500
  • Montreal: 18,500
  • Newsstands: 2,000
  • Mailing: 2,000

English Canada Edition (25,000 copies)

  • Vancouver: 4,500
  • Victoria: 2,500
  • Calgary: 2,500
  • Edmonton: 2,500
  • Ottawa: 3,000
  • Toronto: 10,000

Distribution date: June 1, 2008
Advertising Deadline: May 19
Materials: May 20

La Scena Musicale: July/August 2008

50,000 readers

Quebec circulation: 25,000 copies

  • Montreal: 20,500
  • Qubec City: 500
  • Newsstands: 2,000
  • Mailing: 2,000

Distribution date: July 1
Advertising deadline: June 16
Materials deadline: June 18

Festivals:

Talking about music and arts festivals. La Scena Musicale, La SCENA and The Music Scene are the place to find International and Canadian music and arts festivals in 2008 (in print and online). The following three issues will cover all the 2008 festivals:

  • International Music and Arts Festivals: Spring 2008 issue of The Music Scene and the Spring 2008 issue of La SCENA (including the April issue of La Scena Musicale).
  • Canadian Jazz, World and Folk Festivals: May 2008 issue of La Scena Musicale. This is a national issue (double distribution to 50,000 copies) and the ad rates are 1.5 times the regular rates.
  • Canadian Classical Music and Arts Festivals: Summer 2008 issue of La SCENA (including the June issue of La Scena Musicale). This is a national issue (double distribution to 50,000 copies) and the ad rates are 1.5 times the regular rates.

To register your festival, visit the info page .

New LSM Online Features: Blog and Newswire (over 400 posts in 4 months)

We are proud to unveil the LSM Blog (www.scena.org/blog

), which is the ideal place to check out commentary and news on music and the arts in Canada and around the world. Our writers will be posting regularly to keep you up to date on the latest developments throughout the musical world.

We would also like to tell you about our new free service called LSM Newswire. E-mail your press release to newswiresubsmit@scena.org. The text must be in the body of the e-mail. We will post it in our newswire page http://www.scena.org/blog/newswire. We will also put a direct link to your press release in the "LSM Newswire" section at the bottom of our home page http://en.scena.org

. Please note that this service will not work with if the info is in a file attachment (PDF, Word, etc.). The text must be in the body of the e-mail.

Advantages:

  • Get your press release seen by a larger audience
  • Searchable by Google: SCENA.org is indexed by Google daily
  • It's FREE

Why advertise in La SCENA/La Scena Musicale? Reach Canada's most cultured consumers

Want to reach the affluent, sophisticated, urban 35+ demographic, or professional and student musicians/artists?

Highly educated and with sophisticated tastes in culture and lifestyle: La Scene Musicale invites you into the lives of 100,000 Canadians. Our readers are passionate about music, dance, theatre, film, visual arts, as well as food, fashion and their homes.

Our award-winning magazines La Scena Musicale, La SCENA and The Music Scene contain thought-provoking articles and reviews. Furthermore, La Scena Musicale and La SCENA are the only bilingual Montreal publications dedicated to covering concert music (classical music, jazz and world music), and arts and culture (music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts). In addition, the inclusion of Canada's most in-depth cultural calendar ensures repeat viewings, over 225,000 per month. Our new direct distribution to affluent households ($100K+) means our magazines truly deliver, meaning they are read and read often.

For more info on rates and production, please visit http://ads.scena.org, or contact our sales department directly at 514-948-0509 or sales@scena.org.

Donations Requested

La Scena Musicale is looking for the donation of two used PCs (3 to 5 years old) for our office staff. We would be gratefully issue a tax receipt for the donation. Cash donations are also appreciated.
Please contact 514-948-2520 or info@scena.org

Charitable tax no. 14199 6579 RR0001

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Thursday, April 17, 2008

Canadian Tulip Festival: Celebride announces line-up

FOR RELEASE FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2008, 5:00 p.m.

Celebride announces complete line-up Tickets now on sale

Ottawa, April 4, 2008 Celebride is delighted to announce the complete line-up for its 2008 festival. Celebride is a 19-day celebration of ideas which runs from May 2nd to May 19th, 2008 as part of the Canadian Tulip Festival and will feature a tremendous line-up of great thinkers, writers, scientists, political figures and artists from all around the world.

Headlining Celebride will be Sir Salman Rushdie, one of the world's most celebrated and controversial novelists, in his first-ever public appearance in Ottawa. Also in their first-ever Ottawa appearances are Wired Magazine's Chris Anderson, and Jared Diamond Pulitzer Prize winning author of Guns, Germs and Steel.

Other highlights of Celebride include improv comedians Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood; the newest member the Royal Canadian Air Farce, Ottawa comedian Jessica Holmes; Dr. Dan Baker, author of What Happy People Know; McGill University Professor Daniel J. Levitin, author of This is Your Brain on Music; and James Howard Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency. Yale University's Amy Chua will present World on Fire; the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada will moderate a session on Penal Reform, the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics will present The Mystery of Dark Matter, and Richard Florida, author of Who's Your City, will discuss Creative Cities.

Most events will take place in the Tulip Festival Mirror Tent, an exceptionally high-end "Spiegeltent" being shipped over from Belgium especially for Celebride and the Canadian Tulip Festival. People will be able to dine in the Mirror Tent before all events, mingle before and after the presentations and enjoy refreshments, including wine and beer, during the presentation. Organizers are expecting the Tulip Festival Mirror Tent also the home of this year's Tulip Ball and five nights of Cabaret to be one of the great attractions of this year's Festival.

Celebride will also feature three superb musical concerts including two evenings with Angela Hewitt performing Bach's complete Well-Tempered Clavier and Janina Fialkowska & The Chamber Players of Canada, all at St. Andrew's Church.

Tickets for Celebride events are available through Capital Tickets www.capitaltickets.ca and at Perfect Books, 258a Elgin Street; Nicholas Hoare Books, 419 Sussex Drive; Collected Works Bookstore, 1242 Wellington Street West; Compact Music, 190 and 785 Bank Street. Tickets to Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood are available at all of the outlets listed above, the National Arts Centre box office and Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.ca. Tickets to concerts are available at the Leading Note, 370 Elgin Street; CD Warehouse (all locations); and Compact Music (both locations).

Full information can be found on the Celebride's web site, www.celebridee.com

30

INFORMATION

Christina Britskey (613) 567-5757, ext 232

celebridee@tulipfestival.ca

CELEBRIDE BACKGROUND

The Seven Deadly Sins

Friday, May 2

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

Sin has shaped our society since the very beginnings of humanity. This event will take a profound and entertaining look at sin throughout history and into our own time, featuring seven people from a wide variety of backgrounds including the newest member of the Royal Canadian Air Farce, Jessica Holmes, astute and witty Ottawa poet Phil Jenkins and Celebride director Julian Armour.

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

For more information on Jessica Holmes please visit www.jessicaholmes.net/blog.html

For more information on Phil Jenkins please visit www.philjenkins.ca

An Evening with Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood

Sunday, May 4

7:30 p.m.

National Arts Centre, Southam Hall

A very special Ottawa appearance by the brilliantly insightful Canadian improv comedian, Colin Mochrie!

Following enormously successful solo tours, Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the Emmy nominated, Whose Line Is It Anyway? have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy. Using only their lightning fast wit and suggestions from the audience, Colin and Brad create two hours of hilarity. The show is truly interactive all ideas will be given the special "Colin and Brad" treatment!

Tickets: $32, $42, $56, $68

Tickets are available at the National Arts Centre, www.ticketmaster.ca, and Canadian Tulip Festival Outlets.

For more information on Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood please visit www.colinandbradshow.com

The Science of Happiness

with

Dan Baker, Ph.D.

John M. Zelenski, Ph.D.

Monday May 5

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

Dr. Dan Baker is a medical psychologist and the author of the book on happiness, What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life for the Better. For this presentation he will be joined by Carleton University professor John M. Zelenski, a psychologist who studies individual differences in happiness, in a discussion on what science tells us about being happy and what we need to do to be happier.

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

For more information on Dr. Baker please visit www.canyonranch.com/story/dan-baker.aspx

The Treaty of Paris

Tuesday, May 6

5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Library and Archives Canada

The year 2008 marks the 225th anniversary of Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolution. However, the legacy of this treaty has been much greater than merely ending the war: it reshaped North America, creating new political relationships and this basis for the Canada we know today. This event is the official opening of the exhibition at Library and Archives Canada, where the actual treaty will be on display.

(Library and Archives Canada logo)

Free Admission

An Evening with Sir Salman Rushdie

Tuesday, May 6

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

An Ottawa first! Sir Salman Rushdie is one of the most successful, controversial and celebrated novelists of his generation. His novels have won critical acclaim and widespread commercial success, while his ideas have stimulated, galvanized, and provoked. He is without a doubt one of the most admired, witty and provocative people of our time. Without question, one of the most important cultural events of the year in Ottawa.

General Admission: $50

Reserved Section: $75

This is your Brain on Music

with

Daniel J. Levitin

Wednesday, May 7

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

After decades of working with some of the world's most famous musicians, including the Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, Santana and Stevie Wonder, McGill University Professor Daniel J. Levitin has now become world-renowned for his studies on neuroscience why and how music affects us so deeply. His book, This is Your Brain on Music, was on the New York Times bestseller list for 23 weeks. A must for fans of all styles of music!

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

For more information on Dan Levitin please visit www.psych.mcgill.ca/levitin/ and www.yourbrainonmusic.com

Urban Meltdown

Thursday, May 8

2:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

with

Clive Doucet and John Godfrey

Poet, city councillor and urban activist, Clive Doucet provides a razor-sharp insider's perspective into how explosive urban growth is accelerating global warming, and why political action seems paralyzed. Faced with powerful lobby groups and re-election pressures, many elected officials have pushed environmental issues on the back burner. Clive Doucet's book, Urban Meltdown, was a finalist for the prestigious 2007 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize.

John Godfrey brings tremendous experience and expertise to the discussion of cities. Prior to July 2004, John Godfrey served as Parliamentary Secretary and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister with special emphasis on cities. Before serving in Canada's Parliament, John enjoyed a distinguished career in academia and journalism. He first gained national profile during his tenure from 1987 to 1991 as Editor of The Financial Post.

Alternative Destinies: James Howard Kunstler

The Long Emergency

Thursday, May 8

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

James Howard Kunstler has become one of the pre-eminent observers of today world and North American Society. His latest book, The Long Emergency is about the challenges posed by the coming permanent global oil crisis, climate change, and other converging catastrophes of the 21st Century. Kunstler is an emphatic "petro-pessimist" who argues that civilization is about to enter a sustained period of economic, social, and environmental decrepitude triggered by the end of the cheap-oil era. A profound and gifted thinker with remarkable insight into today's challenging world.

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

For more information on James Howard Kuntsler please visit www.kunstler.com

Alternative Destinies: Amy Chua

Friday, May 9

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

Best-selling author Amy Chua offers audiences truly revolutionary insights into global power, politics and economics. She is changing the context of global economics and international politics. Her most recent book, Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominanceand Why They Fall, examines history's handful of dominant world powers to reveal the reasons behind their success and the roots of their ultimate demise, and World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability.

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

For more information on Amy Chua please visit www.law.yale.edu/faculty/AChua.htm

Angela Hewitt: The Well-Tempered Clavier I & II

Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 pm and

Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30 pm

Angela Hewitt piano

J.S. Bach The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I and II

St. Andrew's Church

82 Kent Street, Ottawa

Honourary Patron: Aline Chrtien

World-renowned pianist Angela Hewitt is praised throughout the world as one of the great Bach interpreters of our time. Her appearance at the Canadian Tulip Festival and Celebride is part of a world tour where she is performing the complete Well-Tempered Clavier, one of the monuments of the piano repertoire, in 25 countries on six continents. Among her many awards, Angela Hewitt was named Gramophone Artist of the Year in 2006. She was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2006.

This is the first of two nights. Part II takes place on May 13th. All proceeds from these concerts go directly to support the Godfrey Hewitt Memorial Scholarship.

General Admission: $30 (Both evenings of the complete Well-Tempered Clavier: $50)

Reserved Section: $100 SOLD OUT

Students: $20 (Both evenings of the complete Well-Tempered Clavier: $30)

For more information please visit www.angelahewitt.com

Penal Reform

Monday, May 12

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

(Photo: Beverley McLachlin)

An in-depth discussion of one of the most pressing and controversial issues of modern society. How safe are we? As a society are we driven by fear? Are we better off imprisoning convicted criminals more often and for longer periods of time? Moderated by the Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Canada, panelists will include award-winning Ottawa Citizen columnist Dan Gardner, Ottawa Chief of Police Vern White and a roster of experts from the worlds of law enforcement and the justice system.

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

The Occupied Garden

Tuesday, May 13

2:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

with

Kristen den Hartog

Tracy Kasaboski

(Photo: Kristen den Hartog)

This event features the ideas of relocation and international friendship, and the discussion of a new book, The Occupied Garden a moving and revealing memoir about a man and his young family during the Nazi occupation of Holland and their subsequent relocation in Canada. The story is told by his granddaughters, one of them the critically-acclaimed novelist Kristen den Hartog. It also deals the many ties between Canada and the Netherlands forged during the Second World War, leading to the founding of the Canadian Tulip Festival.

Free Admission

The Mystery of Dark Matter

Tuesday, May 13

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

Presented by Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

Over the last few decades, physicists have discovered that around ninety percent of every galaxy in the universe is made of an unseen substance called "dark matter." This is one of the hottest topics in physics. The Mystery of Dark Matter will be presented by the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. The brilliantly innovative Perimeter Institute is a Canadian success story, dedicated to addressing foundational issues in current theoretical physics research.

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

For more information please visit http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/

Can Philanthropy Save the World?

with

Michael Edwards

Thursday, May 15

2:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

(Photo: Michael Edwards)

The movement in the nonprofit world to make charities more like businesses and create new markets for goods and services that benefit society has been nicknamed "philanthrocapitalism." Michael Edwards, director of civil society and governance at the Ford Foundation, writes in his new book, Just Another Emperor? The Myths and Realities of Philanthrocapitalism, that the trend isn't living up to its hype. A must-attend event for anyone involved in or concerned about the not-for-profit sector.

Free Admission

The Long Tail

with

Chris Anderson

Thursday, May 15

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

(Photo: Chris Anderson) (Illustration: Long Tail Chart)

Chris Anderson is one of the most knowledgeable, perceptive and articulate observers of business and technology in the modern world. He is editor-in-chief of the highly insightful and influential Wired Magazine. He coined the phrase, The Long Tail, which has been used to explain many of the consumer trends that have created a radically different culture and economy and have had a dramatic impact on the world we live in.

General Admission: $50

Reserved Section: $75

For more information on Chris Anderson and the Long Tail please visit www.longtail.com

Who's Your City? An evening with Richard Florida

Friday, May 16

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

(Photo: Jared Diamond)

Richard Florida is, without question, one of the world's leading thinkers on economic competitiveness, demographic trends, and cultural and technological innovation. In the last five years, Florida has penned two national bestsellers, The Rise of the Creative Class and The Flight of the Creative Class. His new book, Who's Your City? takes a look at the way that people choose the places they live and how that affects everything from their real estate to their families. Richard Florida is Professor of Business and Creativity at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

For more information on Richard Florida please visit

ww.rotman.utoronto.ca/facbios/viewFac.asp?facultyID=florida

Alternative Destinies: Jared Diamond

Saturday, May 17

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

Jared Diamond, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning Guns, Germs and Steel, is the epitome of the celebrity scientist. His lectures routinely draw thousands of rapt listeners, who walk away with a deeper and more nuanced view of the development of human civilization and the continued gulf between rich and poor in the global community.

General Admission: $50

Reserved Section: $75

For more information on Jared Diamond please visit

www.geog.ucla.edu/people/faculty.php?lid=3078&display_one=1&modify=1

Janina Fialkowska and the Chamber Players of Canada

Sunday, May 18

7:30 p.m.

St. Andrew's Church

82 Kent Street, Ottawa

Jonathan Crow violin

Manuela Milani violin

Guylaine Lemaire viola

Julian Armour cello

Murielle Bruneau double bass

Janina Fialkowska - piano

Mozart Concerto for Piano and Strings in C major, K. 415

Sir Ernest MacMillan - Two Sketches on French Canadian Airs

Godfrey Ridout Movement for String Quartet

Schumann Quintet for Piano and Strings

The spectacular partnership between pianist Janina Fialkowska and the Chamber Players of Canada has led to many highly-acclaimed concerts, radio broadcasts and CD recordings. This concert includes Mozart's own chamber music version of his Concerto in C major and one of the greatest masterpieces of all of music, Schumann's Quintet for Piano and Strings.

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

Student: $10

For more information on Janina Fialkowska please visit www.fialkowska.com

Celebride Closing Event: Ideas of Hope

Monday, May 19

8:00 p.m.

Tulip Festival Mirror Tent

We close Celebride with a fascinating evening devoted to "Ideas of Hope." In a complex and troubled world seemingly filled with turmoil, strife, and massive inequality, all against a backdrop of rampant pollution and resource depletion, what are the ideas in which we can take hope? A broad panel of some of the most engaged Canadian thinkers will join in this lively discussion including Ed Broadbent and Maude Barlow. Ed Broadbent is one of the most admired and respected politicians in the history of Canada. Maude Barlow is the National Chairperson of The Council of Canadians, Canada's largest public advocacy organization, and the co-founder of the Blue Planet Project, an organization that is working internationally for the right to water. Stay tuned for details!

General Admission: $20

Reserved Section: $40

The Tulip Festival Mirror Tent Major's Hill Park May 2 19, 2008

Major's Hill Park will also host a new spectacular addition to the Festival in 2008 the Tulip Festival Mirror Tent. Coming from Belgium, the Tulip Festival Mirror Tent recreates the renowned European art nouveau days with lavish interiors of carved wood, polished mirrors, crystal, leadlight and luxuriant furnishings. The Tulip Festival Mirror Tent will host the 2008 Celebride Celebration of Ideas program, as well as four food and music Cabaret Nights and will be the home of the 2008 Tulip Ball Reflections! on Saturday, May 10.

Open daily for lunch, dinner and snacks, the Tulip Festival Mirror Tent will be a highlight of the 2008 Canadian Tulip Festival.

TICKET OUTLETS

BOOKSTORES

Perfect Books

Contact: Pat

Tel:(613)231-6468
Fax:(613)231-4425
258A Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario.
K2P 1L9
info@perfectbooks.ca
www.perfectbooks.ca

Nicholas Hoare Books

Contact: David

ddollin@nicholashoare.ca

419 Sussex Drive

Ottawa,ON

K1N 9M6

613-562-2665

Collected Works Bookstore

Contact: Christopher Smith

1242 Wellington Street West

Ottawa, ON K1Y 3A4

CANADA

Tel 613.722.1265

Fax 613.722.0213

www.collected-works.com

info@collected-works.com

Concert Tickets

Leading Note

Contact: Sheilah Craven

370 Elgin St., Suite No. 2 Ottawa, ON, K2P 1N1 Canada

613-569-7888 Fax 613-569-8555

leadingnote@on.aibn.com

Compact Music

Contact:

www.compactmusic.ca

The Downtown Store: 613-233-7626
190 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON, K2P 1W8
compact@bellnet.ca

The Glebe Store: 613-233-8922
785 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON, K1S 3V5
compact@sympatico.ca

CD WAREHOUSE

Contact: Beth, Kanata location

CD Warehouse
499 Terry Fox Dr.,
Kanata, Ontario, K2T 1H7
(613) 599-4700
fax: (613)599-8323

CD Warehouse
1383 Clyde Ave.,
Nepean, Ontario, K2G 3H7
(613) 225-9027
fax: (613)225-8064

CD Warehouse
1717 St. Laurent Blvd.,
Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 3V4
(613) 523-0110
fax: (613)523-7543

Christina Britskey,

Administrative Coordinator,

Celebride

Canadian Tulip Festival

130 Albert St, Suite 1705

Ottawa,ON

(613)567-5757 x 232

Celebridee

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Huge Rally to Save CBC Radio Orchestra

MEDIA ADVISORY ݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬݬApril 16, 2008

HUGE RALLY TO SAVE CBC RADIO ORCHESTRA
SUNDAY APRIL 20 AT 2 P.M. AT THE CHAN CENTRE AT UBC

Wednesday April 16, 2008 ݒĶ Standing on guard for the CBC Radio Orchestra, April 20 at 2:00 pm CBC Radio Two listeners are following up on last weeks successful staging of a coast to coast National Day Of Action to demand CBC brass back down on their apparent systematic destruction of the Radio 2 network and their decision to replace it with programming completely foreign to it's core audiences. The rally Sunday is a call to the CBC Board and Management to restore the CBC Radio Orchestra within a revitalized CBC Radio Two.

The rally on Sunday starting at 2:00 pm is an hour before the orchestras regularly scheduled, and nearly sold-out, performance at 3:00 pm.

The natural amphitheatre at the Chan entrance is a dramatic location, which will accommodate an impressive number of supporters, while allowing the 1,200 concert-goers easy access.

Its not the usual sort of prelude to an afternoon of live music at the Chan said Canadian Music Centre head Colin Miles. This situation has become a flashpoint for the general downgrading of CBC by the people who have been entrusted with our precious public broadcasting system."

We are seeing the end of a cultural treasure that serves Canadians coast to coast and is an essential player in our musical exports to the world. Elimination of the CBC Orchestra is the destruction of our ability to tell our stories. It amounts to censorship and stifling of free expression of our composers" he stated.

At 2 cents per year per person, how can CBC management, the board and Parliament agree to this? The issue has now been raised on the floor of the House of Commons and we will be keeping the pressure up. added Colin Miles.

Three years ago CBC management stopped the CBC Orchestra from working in the studio to record music for broadcast and CDs and told they could only give public performances. Renting concert halls and paying for publicity to promote concerts is expensive. This orchestra has a recording studio that was built for them and well trained creative producer, recording engineer and orchestra librarian on staff. CBC management needs to be reminded what power in creating programming they have by keeping their orchestra. We are calling on CBC to restore the orchestra and get it back into the studio to do what they do best for the benefit of all of Canada. As the CBC Radio Orchestra's own webpage states "With an audience as diverse as the Canadian experience, we create engaging musical radio programs, commission and perform new works as well as established classics, and showcase exceptional Canadian performers and conductors."

Rally organized by:
Save the CBC Orchestra Committee
Based in Vancouver, Reaching Across the Country

www.StandOnGuardforCBC.ca <http://www.StandOnGuardforCBC.ca>

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PSO Offers the Opportunity to Hear Mahler's Symphony No. 1 for $25

PORTLAND, Maine In order to showcase a tremendous piece of music as well as their new Music Director Designate the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) presents Mahler's spectacular Symphony No. 1 in glorious Merrill Auditorium on Monday, May 5th for only $25 per person. For those who've never been to a PSO performance, and even for those who have, this Podium Prelude Concert offers an unparalleled opportunity to hear an hour-long concert designed to introduce incoming Music Director Robert Moody to Portland and the southern Maine community. All tickets are available for the same low price.

Deborah Galarneau, President of the PSO's Board of Trustees, said, "We have never been able to offer the community such a special event at such an economical price. And there is still the opportunity to get seats that would usually cost at least twice as much! We're thrilled to introduce the community to Maestro Moody at this special event."

Mahler's Symphony No. 1 is one of the most exciting and accessible works ever written for symphony orchestra. The first movement is full of birdsongs, the second movement is a folk dance, and the third movement is a spooky funeral march, with klezmer accents, based on the "Frere Jacques" melody. The stormy finale begins with an alarming bang and builds to a huge climax. Program notes and an audio invitation from Robert Moody are available at www.portlandsymphony.com.

In addition to the $25 tickets for the May 5 concert there are a limited number of $150 tickets, which include Grand Tier seating and an exclusive cocktail reception at the Cumberland Club with Robert Moody. Those tickets can be purchased by calling the PSO office at (207) 773-6128.

Robert Moody will direct Mahler's Symphony No. 1 again on Tuesday May 6 as part of the PSO's season finale concert. That program will also include Dan Locklair's PHOENIX for orchestra, a piece commissioned in 2006 by Robert Moody, and Haydn's Cello Concerto in D Major, with celebrated Canadian guest soloist Denise Djokic. Tickets are extremely limited to this event.

Tickets for the Podium Prelude and other PSO performances are available now through www.porttix.com, by phone at 207-842-0800, or at the PortTix box office, 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Madame Butterfly - compagnie invite des GBCM - Houston Ballet

Invit des Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral,

LE Houston Ballet prsente

Madame Butterfly de Stanton Welch

la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier de la Place des Arts

les 1er, 2 et 3 mai 2008 20 h

Montral, le 26 mars 2008 Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral accueillent en mai prochain le Houston Ballet, l'une des meilleures compagnies de ballet aux tats-Unis. Aprs avoir conquis le public montralais avec Giselle en avril 2006, la troupe revient dans la mtropole pour offrir la dchirante histoire de Madame Butterfly, dans une version chorgraphie par le directeur artistique du Houston Ballet, Stanton Welch. Unique compagnie invite au cours de la prochaine saison, le Houston Ballet saura en mouvoir plus d'un avec cette grande uvre lyrique, porte par la musique de Puccini. Cette invitation s'inscrit dans une entente de rciprocit qui permettra aux Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral de se prsenter dans la srie de danse du Houston Ballet, en novembre 2008.

mouvante, magnifiquement danse par la compagnie sur la somptueuse musique de Puccini, cette Madame Butterfly constitue l'un des plus beaux ballets de Welch. (Houston Press, 2007)

HOUSTON BALLET

Cinquime plus grande compagnie de ballet aux tats-Unis, le Houston Ballet se produit en Europe, en Asie, au Canada et dans de nombreuses villes amricaines. Ses origines remontent 1955, anne o les membres fondateurs de la Houston Ballet Foundation caressaient le rve de mettre sur pied une compagnie de ballet et une cole de danse dans leur ville. Si l'cole la Houston Ballet Academy voyait le jour la mme anne, il faudra attendre 1969 pour que soit fonde la compagnie de ballet. Celle-ci sera alors place sous la direction de Nina Popova, ancienne danseuse des Ballets russes de Monte-Carlo et de l'American Ballet Theatre. Aujourd'hui, la troupe texane regroupe plus d'une cinquantaine d'blouissants danseurs, dont plusieurs ont remport des mdailles d'or ou d'argent lors de comptitions de danse internationales. L'une des premires choses qui frappe dans cette compagnie, c'est la technique sans failles, non seulement des danseurs principaux, mais de tous les danseurs. (Dance Europe, Londres)

MADAME BUTTERFLY

Premier ballet intgral chorgraphi par Stanton Welch, Madame Butterfly fut cr pour l'Australian Ballet en 1995. Conu alors que Welch n'a que 24 ans, Madame Butterfly n'en constitue pas moins l'uvre laquelle il est aujourd'hui le plus identifi. Inspir par l'opra de Puccini, ce ballet en deux actes relate la tragique histoire de la belle geisha Cio-Cio-San, passionnment amoureuse d'un officier de marine amricain, le cynique Pinkerton, au point de renoncer aux conventions sociales et de renier sa famille pour lui. Ce sacrifice lui cotera ultimement la vie. Le ballet brille notamment par le superbe pas de deux qui clt le premier acte, o le couple clbre sa nuit de noces. La musique fut arrange par John Lanchbery (1923-2003), chef d'orchestre britannique qui a galement sign les arrangements musicaux de six autres productions du Houston Ballet. Madame Butterfly de Stanton Welch figure au rpertoire du Houston Ballet, du National Ballet, du Royal New Zealand Ballet, de l'Atlanta Ballet et du Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

l'instar de Romo et Juliette, Madame Butterfly est une histoire d'amour merveilleuse et clbre, affirme le chorgraphe. Lorsque j'ai commenc m'intresser la chorgraphie, je travaillais comme figurant pour l'Australian Opera. Quand mon pre me raccompagnait la maison, je le pressais de questions sur les diffrents opras, la recherche de l'histoire qui me semblerait la mieux adapte au ballet. Il me parlait avec passion et avec force dtails de l'amour fatal de Cio-Cio-San pour Pinkerton. Cette histoire allait me passionner mon tour.

STANTON WELCH

N Melbourne de parents danseurs, Stanton Welch a t form la San Francisco Ballet School. Il se joint ensuite l'Australian Ballet o il est promu au rang de soliste. En 1990, il ralise sa premire uvre pour la compagnie et, en 1995, il est nomm chorgraphe rsident de l'Australian Ballet. Chorgraphe parmi les plus en vue de sa gnration, Welch a cr des uvres pour, entre autres, le Houston Ballet, le San Francisco Ballet, l'American Ballet Theatre, l'Australian Ballet, le Birmingham Royal Ballet et le Royal Danish Ballet. Trs actif sur la scne internationale, Welch reoit des commandes des plus prestigieuses compagnies au monde. Arriv la barre du Houston Ballet en juillet 2003, il a su insuffler nergie, dynamisme et vision renouvele la compagnie texane. Il a notamment enrichi son rpertoire par des uvres d'minents chorgraphes et attir Houston les meilleurs entraneurs et matres de ballet pour travailler avec les danseurs. Pour le Houston Ballet, il a chorgraphi Indigo (1999), Bruiser (2000), Tales of Texas (2004), Blindness (2004), Bolero (2004), Nosotros (2005), Brigade (2006) et Le lac des cygnes (2006).

Laissez-vous toucher par la tragique histoire de Madame Butterfly, telle que raconte par Stanton Welch et par les magnifiques danseurs du Houston Ballet, les 1er, 2 et 3 mai 2008 20 h la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier de la Place des Arts. Billets en vente la Place des Arts, 514-842-2112 / www.pda.qc.ca.

Des causeries animes auront lieu au Piano Nobile de la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier avant toutes les reprsentations, de 19 h 19 h 30.

POUR NE RIEN MANQUER, OFFREZ-VOUS UN ABONNEMENT !

Pour des renseignements sur les diffrente formules d'abonnement des Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral, les forfaits de groupe et les privilges exceptionnels qui leur sont rattachs, le grand public est invit tlphoner au 514-849-0269 ou consulter le site www.grandsballets.com. Le site offre galement des renseignements sur les autres spectacles, la compagnie et les danseurs.

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As a guest of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral

Houston Ballet presents

Madame Butterfly by Stanton Welch

At Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts

May 1, 2 and 3, 2008, at 8 p.m.

Montral, March 26 , 2008 Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral will once again welcome the Houston Ballet, one of the best ballet companies in the United States, this coming May. Having won Montrealers' hearts with Giselle in April 2006, the troupe is returning to the city to perform the wrenching story of Madame Butterfly, in a version choreographed by the Houston Ballet's Artistic Director, Stanton Welch. As the sole guest company of Les Grands' coming season, the Houston Ballet will touch audiences with this major lyrical work, carried by the music of Puccini. This guest visit is part of an exchange agreement which in turn will have Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montral performing in the Houston Ballet's dance series in November 2008.

"Poignant, beautifully danced by the company to a lush Puccini score, this Madame Butterfly is definitely one of the finest story ballets by Welch." (Houston Press, 2007).

HOUSTON BALLET

The Houston Ballet is the U.S.'s fifth-biggest ballet company, and performs in Europe, Asia, Canada and numerous American cities. Its origins date back to 1955, when the founding members of the Houston Ballet Foundation dreamt of creating a ballet company and a dance school in their home city. While the schoolthe Houston Ballet Academywas born that same year, it was not until 1969 that the ballet company saw the light of day. It was placed under the direction of Nina Popova, former dancer with the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo and the American Ballet Theatre. Today, the Texan troupe brings together 54 incredible dancers, many of whom have won gold and silver medals at international dance competitions.

"One of the first things that hits you about this company is the technical strengths not just of its principals, but throughout the ranks." (Dance Europe, London).

MADAME BUTTERFLY

Madame Butterfly, the first full ballet to be choreographed by Stanton Welch, was premiered by the Australian Ballet in 1995. Mr. Welch created Madame Butterfly at the tender age of 24, and it remains the work with which he is most often identified. Inspired by Puccini's opera, the two-act ballet relates the tragic story of the beautiful geisha Cio-Cio-San, who falls passionately in love with the cynical American navy officer Pinkerton, defying the rules of society and renouncing her family. Her sacrifice ultimately costs her her life. The high point of the piece is a pas de deux with Pinkerton and Cio-Cio-San, which celebrates their marriage and closes Act I. The music is arranged by John Lanchbery (1923-2003), the British conductor who also created musical arrangements for six other Houston Ballet productions. Mr. Welch's Madame Butterfly holds a place in the repertories of the Houston Ballet, the National Ballet, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the Atlanta Ballet and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

"Madame Butterfly is a wonderful and famous love story, along the lines of Romeo and Juliet," says Mr. Welch. "When I first became interested in choreography I was working as an extra with the Australian Opera. While my father drove me home, I would quiz him on various opera stories, searching for the one most suited for ballet. The one he spoke about most passionately, and in the most detail, is the story of Cio-Cio-San and her fatal love for Pinkerton. It was later to become my passion, too."


STANTON WELCH

Born in Melbourne to dancer parents, Stanton Welch trained at the San Francisco Ballet School. He then joined the Australian Ballet, where he was promoted to the rank of soloist. In 1990, he choreographed his first work for the company, and in 1995 he was appointed choreographer-in-residence. As one of the highest-profile choreographers of his generation, Mr. Welch has created works for the Houston Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre, the Australian Ballet, the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet. Mr. Welch is highly active on the international scene, with commissions from numerous prestigious companies around the world.

When he arrived at the Houston Ballet in July 2003, Mr. Welch suffused the Texan company with his energy, renewed vision and dynamic approach. Among other things, he enriched its repertoire with works from eminent choreographers and attracted the best instructors and ballet masters to Houston to work with the dancers. For the Houston Ballet, he choreographed Indigo (1999), Bruiser (2000), Tales of Texas (2004), Blindness (2004), Bolero (2004), Nosotros (2005), Brigade (2006), and Swan Lake (2006).

Let yourself be moved by the tragic story of Madame Butterfly as told by Stanton Welch and the magnificent dancers of the Houston Ballet, on May 1, 2 and 3, 2008, at 8 p.m. at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts.

There will be talks on Madame Butterfly prior to every show, from 7 to 7:30 p.m. in the Piano Nobile of Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.


SUBSCRIBE SO THAT YOU DON'T MISS ANYTHING!

For information on the various ways in which you can subscribe to the Les Grands Ballets Canadiens program, on group packages and on the special privileges that accompany them, members of the public should phone 514-849-0269 or visit our website at www.grandsballets.com. The site also provides information on other shows, the company and its dancers.

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Monday, April 14, 2008

Sound Worlds: Dialogue with the composer Hans Tutschku

Tuesday, April 15 2008 at 5 pm.
Goethe-Institut Montreal, 418 Sherbrooke East
English
Free Admission
514-499-0159
kultur@montreal.goethe.org

In this presentation, the composer and installation artist Hans Tutschku provides insight into his composition. The artist, who is German, has since 2004 taught electronic music at Harvard University. Tutschku is known for basing his sound installations and compositions on acoustic impressions from his surroundings. In his compositions, recordings from different sound worlds, often from far-away places, become the material for new electro-acoustic worlds. In addition to talking about his creative approach to his acoustic surroundings, Tutschku will also present the underlying concept of his work and discuss how our environment can be shaped acoustically and through composition.

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posted by Graham Lord at 12:08 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Free lecture: Sunday-@-the-Segal, before The Odd Couple, May 4, 11:00am, with Andy Nulman

CBC Radio One Presents

Sunday-@-the-Segal


A series of intimate conversation and riveting lectures at

The Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre


Andy Nulman

Don't miss Sunday-@-the-Segal for the upcoming production, The Odd Couple, as we welcome local connoisseur of comedy, Andy Nulman. Andy prides himself as having always marched to the beat of a different drum. Who better, then, to talk about being odd? Join us for a Sunday-@-the-Segal that guarantees to be different, surprising, unexpected, fun, unique and innovative. Andy is the President and CMO of Airborne Mobile but is perhaps best known for his 15-year tenure as CEO of Montreal's renowned Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival. An acclaimed and thought-provoking public speaker who has motivated and challenged Fortune 500 companies such as GM, Eveready/Energizer, 3M and Wal-Mart, Mr. Nulman has also written two best-selling books, How To Do The Impossible and I Almost Killed George Burns. Andy was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 business leaders by the Financial Post in 1997, voted one of the Top 100 Montrealers of the 20th century by the Montreal Gazette in 2000 and was honoured as a distinguished recipient of the McGill Management Achievement Award in 2004.



Sunday, May 4, 2008, 11 AM


Coffee and refreshments will be served in the lobby

(Tickets on sale now for the first preview of The Odd Couple at 1:30 pm)

At the Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre, 5170 Cote Ste. Catherine Rd.

FREE ADMISSION!! No reservations necessary, general admission


The Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre and Delmar present

The Odd Couple, May 4-25, 2008

For tickets call (514) 739-7944 or log on to www.segalcentre.org


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Friday, April 11, 2008

Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill with the TSO

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra today announced that vocalist Ute Lemper will perform Kurt Weill's Seven Deadly Sins on Wednesday, October 1, and Thursday, October 2, at Roy Thomson Hall and then travel with the TSO to Carnegie Hall on Saturday, October 4, 2008.

This performance of Weill's Seven Deadly Sins replaces the previously announced North American premire of Benjamin Yusupov's Viola Tango Rock Concerto. Maxim Vengerov and dancer Christiane Palha, who were originally scheduled to perform as soloists in the Yusupov work, will no longer appear as part of this concert. Mr. Vengerov has cancelled his appearance due to personal reasons. The remainder of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's programme, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11 "The Year 1905", is unchanged.

Multi-talented German sensation Ute Lemper is a singer, songwriter, painter, actress, and writer. Deeply influenced by her homeland's dark, complex, and powerfully creative past, Lemper is one of the most compelling and versatile artists in the world today. Along with other influential artists such as Lou Reed, Nina Hagen, and Roger Waters, Ute Lemper is today's keeper of the Weimar-era creative flame.

As a young composer, Kurt Weill (1900 - 1950) was drawn to musical theatre and vocal music, and his songs were tremendously popular throughout Germany by the beginning of the 1930s. He composed his sung ballet (ballet chant), The Seven Deadly Sins (Die sieben Todsnden) in 1933, a very turbulent time throughout Europe. Because of his Jewish background and creative collaborations with leftist writer Bertolt Brecht, Weill was forced to flee his native country and settle in Paris. The highly satirical The Seven Deadly Sins was Weill's last work composed in his European theatre style, most notably characterized by its directness. After his death in 1950, his widow Lotte Lenya revived this remarkable work, known for its biting critique of capitalism and remarkably haunting music. Since then, it has never lost its appeal with audiences and performers alike. Ms. Lemper's 1990 recording of The Seven Deadly Sins is available on the Decca label.

UTE LEMPER
WITH THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Peter Oundjian, conductor
Ute Lemper, vocalist
Kurt Weill The Seven Deadly Sins
Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 11 in G Minor, Op. 103 "The Year 1905"
Wednesday, October 1 & Thursday, October 1, 2008 at 8pm at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto
Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 8pm at Carnegie Hall in New York

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO TSO'S 2008.2009 SEASON ARE ON SALE NOW
And can be purchased by calling the Toronto Symphony Subscriber Hotline at 416.598.3375
or online http://www.tso.ca/

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Confrence de l'ethnomusicologue Simha Arom et lancement de deux ouvrages, le lundi 21 avril

loccasion du lancement de La bote outils dun ethnomusicologue
et du cdplus Madagascar : Imerina et Antandroy :

Le terrain comme laboratoire : confrence de Simha Arom

Montral, le 11 avril 2008 Le Laboratoire de recherche sur les musiques du monde et la Chaire de recherche du Canada en ethnomusicologie prsentent, le lundi 21 avril prochain, compter de 16 h, une confrence du rput ethnomusicologue Simha Arom, directeur de recherche mrite au Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France).

Prcurseur ayant profondment renouvel les mthodes de recherche sur le terrain, lethnomusicologue sentretiendra avec le public sur sa vaste exprience, qui cumule 40 ans dtude des musiques de peuples dAfrique subsaharienne, notamment. Cet entretien sera suivi du lancement officiel par les Presses de lUniversit de Montral (PUM) de La bote outils dun ethnomusicologue, un florilge des articles les plus emblmatiques de Simha Arom, prsents et runis par Nathalie Fernando, professeure lUniversit de Montral titulaire de la Chaire de recherche du Canada en ethnomusicologie.

Le Laboratoire de recherche sur les musiques (LRMM) du monde lancera galement, cette occasion, le cdplus Madagascar : Imerina et Antandroy, dirig par Monique Desroches, directrice du LRMM, et ralis en collaboration avec Luc Bouvrette et Violaine Debailleul. Le CD audio avec contenu interactif met en valeur deux des patrimoines les plus riches de Madagascar : les musiques des Hauts-Plateaux d'Antananarivo (Imerina) et celles du sud de l'le (pays antandroy).

LEnsemble de musique balinaise Giri Kedaton, en rsidence lUniversit de Montral, offrira une prestation musicale, dans le cadre de cette soire.

**

Programme :

16 h Le terrain comme laboratoire : confrence de Simha Arom, ethnomusicologue, directeur de recherche mrite au CNRS

17 h prestation de LEnsemble de musique balinaise Giri Kedaton
(Gamelan gender wayang et Gamelan selonding)

17 h 30 Lancement douvrages

Simha Arom La bote outil dun ethnomusicologue (PUM)

Monique Desroches Madagascar : Imerina et Antandroy (CD+), (UdeM, Agence intergouvernementale de la Francophonie)


18 h 15 Cocktail

Lundi 21 avril 2008

Facult de musique de lUniversit de Montral

200, Vincent-dIndy, Montral

(mtro douard-Montpetit)

Salle Serge-Garant (B-484) confrence et lancement

Foyer de la salle Claude-Champagne cocktail

Renseignements : 514 343-6427

www.musique.umontreal.ca / lrmm.musique.umontreal.ca

Entre libre

**

Lethnomusicologue Simha Arom est directeur de recherche mrite au Centre National de Recherche Scientifique. Rput pour avoir tabli des mthodes de recherche novatrices et ainsi renouvel la discipline, il sest intress, depuis le dbut des annes 1960, aux musiques des peuples dAfrique subsaharienne, dont les Banda Linda et les Pygmes. Ds ses premires recherches sur le terrain, Simha Arom a prioris la transcription et lanalyse des musiques et favoris une approche multidisciplinaire.

La bote outils dun ethnomusicologue comprend un florilge des articles les plus emblmatiques de Simha Arom, runis et prsents par Nathalie Fernando. Lenseignement et la qute scientifique de lethnomusicologue y sont synthtiss. On y dcouvre une approche rigoureuse et des outils mthodologiques novateurs, des analyses et des mises en contexte clairantes.

Le cdplus Madagascar : Imerina et Antandroy, dirig par Monique Desroches et ralis en collaboration avec Luc Bouvrette et Violaine Debailleul, est un CD audio avec contenu interactif qui met en valeur deux des patrimoines les plus riches de Madagascar : les musiques des Hauts-Plateaux d'Antananarivo (Imerina) et celles du sud de l'le (pays antandroy). De la cithare valiha au luth kabosy , en passant par le style chant beko et la danse tsinzabe , vous serez sduits par le talent remarquable de ces musiciens et chanteurs.

Cr en 1995, le Laboratoire de recherche sur les musiques du monde (LRMM) est un lieu de recherche, de documentation, danimation et de diffusion sur lethnomusicologie, les musiques du monde et les cultures musicales intgr, depuis 2007 lOICCM. Le LRMM se veut un lieu de concertation, d'animation et d'changes en ethnomusicologie. Il regroupe des professeurs, des chercheurs et des tudiants intresss lanalyse des traditions musicales du monde. On y retrouve un centre de documentation spcialis sur les musiques du monde, une programmation d'enseignement, de recherche et d'animation dans le domaine des traditions musicales, une collection scientifique de plus de 550 instruments de musique du monde, une station multimdia en ethnomusicologie (production de CD-ROMs, de DVD-ROMs, et diffusion multimdia en ligne et un service la collectivit (expositions d'instruments de musique, confrences, centre de documentation).

LObservatoire international de la cration et des cultures musicales (OICCM), dirig par Michel Duchesneau, est un groupe de recherche interuniversitaire et international qui travaille sur les thmatiques gnrales de la cration et des cultures musicales. Cette quipe compte dj prs dune vingtaine de chercheurs qubcois, canadiens et trangers. LOICCM est conu pour permettre le dveloppement de la recherche en musicologie, ethnomusicologie, composition instrumentale et lectroacoustique. Il regroupe trois laboratoires : Laboratoire musique, histoire et socit; Laboratoire informatique acoustique et musique; Laboratoire de recherche sur les musiques du monde.

Les Presses de lUniversit de Montral ont t cres en 1962. Elles poursuivent quatre objectifs : diffuser les rsultats de la recherche universitaire par des livres, des revues savantes et l'dition lectronique; transfrer des connaissances scientifiques un large public; participer la vie de la Cit en proposant des rflexions sur des questions d'actualit et contribuer au rayonnement national et international de l'Universit de Montral.

LEnsemble de musique balinaise Giri Kedaton a t cr en 1994 linitiative de Sylvain Mathieu, la suite du don la Facult de musique de lUniversit de Montral par le gouvernement indonsien dun gamelan, orchestre de percussions typique de l'Asie du Sud-Est, la sonorit trange et envotante. Giri Kedaton est aujourdhui dirig par Gabriel Evangelista et ric Vandal. L'orchestre de percussions indonsiennes de la Facult de musique demeure l'un des seuls au Canada.

- 30 -

Source :

Julie Fortier

Facult de musique Universit de Montral

514.343.6365

julie.c.fortier@umontreal.ca

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 2:12 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Thursday, April 10, 2008

PSO Announces KinderKonzert Percussion Program, May 9-16

Introducing young children to instrument families and musical concepts

PORTLAND, Maine The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) percussion ensemble will take students on an around-the-world adventure with "KinderKonzert Percussion: Cowboy Ed Rides Again!" Students will hear a variety of new rhythms and beats throughout the tale, which will be presented May 9-16 in Windham, Portland, Brunswick, South Portland, Lewiston and Saco, Maine.

In Cowboy Ed Rides Again, Ed is lost and keeps ending up in different parts of the world. At each stop, Ed learns about the various cultures, instruments and dance traditions and then brings home a new song from each land. Narrated by Jerry and Lisa Leake, audiences will hear a range of global rhythms and beats, and see dances from Spain, China, India, Brazil and other countries. Kids will learn dances from the African Dagomba to the tango and will learn to sing the African song "Na Yella Bo," in addition to much more.

KinderKonzerts are fun, interactive programs with Portland Symphony musicians where kids ages 3 - 7 can sing, dance, wiggle, clap, and have fun listening and learning about music and instruments. School systems can coordinate the KinderKonzert visit with Science and English Language Arts instruction in addition to Visual and Performing Arts. Specially prepared worksheets designed to support Maine's Learning Results are available online or by contacting the PSO.

KinderKonzerts are sponsored by Time Warner Cable, with the following local businesses providing underwriting support of Cowboy Ed: CBRE/The Boulos Company for the May 12th Portland performances, Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution for the May 14th South Portland shows, and Casella Waste Systems, Inc. for the May 16th programs in Saco.

All tickets for the PSO's KinderKonzerts are $3. For additional information and reservations visit www.portlandsymphony.com or call (207) 773-6128. For school reservations, please contact the PSO Reservation Coordinator at (207) 773-6128, Ext. 306 or education@portlandsymphony.com.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 3:56 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Welcome Ben Van Oosten April 19 for a French Romantic Concert

PORTLAND, Maine The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ (FOKO) welcome guest organist Ben van Oosten from the Netherlands on Tuesday, April 29th for a French Romantic Concert in Portland's Merrill Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Van Oosten will join Portland Municipal Organist Ray Cornils for a pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m.

The concert will feature works from the great French organ romantic literature, including Alexandre Guilmant's, Sonate nr. 1 in D minor, Op. 4, Charles-Marie Widor's, Trois Nouvelles Pices, Op. 87, Csar Franck's, Choral nr. 1 in E major, and Louis Vierne's, Symphony nr. 3 in f-sharp minor, Op. 28.

Van Oosten is one of the foremost international organists of today, best known for his highly-regarded recordings of French romantic organ literature for the MD&G label, including the eight sonatas of Alexandre Guilamnt and the complete organ works of Louis Vierne and Charles-Marie Widor. Van Oosten, born in The Hague in 1955, studied the organ and piano at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amersterdam and later studied in Paris. Aside from his concert career, van Oosten is an organ professor at the Rotterdam Conservatory, where he teaches students from all over the world. Today, van Oosten serves as organist at the Grote Kerk in The Hague and is artistic director of the annual International Organ Festival.

Suggested admission at the door is $15, attendees under 21 are free.

About the Kotzschmar Organ
The Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, built in 1912 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford Connecticut, is this nation's oldest working municipal organ. With 5 manuals for the hands, a 32-note pedal board, 6857 pipes from inch to 32 feet in length, 87 stops, 101 ranks, it is truly one of this nation's musical treasures.

About Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ
Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ was founded in 1981 as a result of the city of Portland's need to withdraw funding for the organ due to financial limitations. Today, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Kotzschmar Organ, the Friend's responsibilities include raising funds, presenting concerts and educational programs and engaging the services of a Municipal Organist.

For more information on any of the concerts contact Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Executive Director Kathleen Grammer, 207-883-4234 or visit www.foko.org.

###

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ present:

Ray Cornils, Municipal Organist and

Ben van Oosten, Guest Organist

at Merrill Auditorium Portland, Maine

Sonate nr. 1 in D minor, Op. 42 (1874) Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)

Introduction et Allegro

Pastorale (Andante quasi Allegretto)

Final (Allegro assai)

From "Trois Nouvelles Pices", Op. 87 (1934) Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)

Mystique

Choral nr. 1 in E major (1890) -- Csar Franck (1822-1890)

INTERMISSION

Symphony nr. 3 in f-sharp minor, Op.28 (1911) Louis Vierne (1870-1937)

Allegro mastoso

Cantilne

Intermezzo

Adagio

Final

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 1:17 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

PORTopera Hosts Dinner/Dance & Auction, May 9

'WHAT HAPPENS IN VERONA STAYS IN VERONA' PORTopera HOSTS 2008 DINNER/DANCE & AUCTION AT THE PORTLAND MARRIOTT MAY 9

PORTLAND, Maine PORTopera's annual Dinner/Dance & Auction, an evening of "Romance and Revelry in Fair Verona," celebrating and supporting PORTopera's 2008 mainstage production of Gounod's ever-popular Romo et Juliette, will be held on Friday, May 9th, at the Portland Marriott.

The night begins with a sumptuous northern Italian dinner from thematic Italian Wedding Soup to Saltimbocca Chicken and Shrimp Scampi in Lemon Caper Sauce finished with a Warm Chocolate Lava Cake served with fresh whipped cream. The Bob Charest band, voted Maine's Best Band again last year, will make an encore visit to play for dinner and dancing. Some of USM's brightest and finest voice students will provide a few arias, accompanied by Aaron Robinson. Master of Ceremonies is stage and screen actor Frank E. Reilly, a San Francisco award-winning director and husband of event co-chair Sharon Reilly. Special guest Frere Laurent (Friar Lawrence) from Romo et Juliette will be portrayed by Peter Panagore, the Channel 6 Daily Devotions Pastor and best-selling Maine author of "Two Minutes for God."

Auctioneer John Locke will again try to break all previous records for bids on donated auction items and adventures; among the items this year will be walk-on roles in Romo et Juliette, a sunset cruise with Pam and Peter Plumb aboard their handsome ketch "Boheme," a gourmet dinner for ten, a trip for two to the Metropolitan Opera, a commissioned portrait by British artist Davinia Hart, cooking lessons in a gourmet chef's own kitchen, and a 12-day trip to China, featuring 5-star hotel stays in Shanghai and Beijing and six days of cruising the Yangtze River (included are the Three Gorges, Xian-home of the terra cotta warriors, the Great Wall, and, of course, the Peking Opera).

Tickets to the Dinner, Dance & Auction are $125 per person, and can be obtained by calling the PORTopera office at (207) 879-7678. Co-chairs Sharon Reilly, Larry Soule, and Bonnie Riddle welcome additional Table Hosts; the cost per table of eight is $1,000, to be paid in advance.

An extra-special offer is being extended to young lovers: one table of eight is reserved for couples age 35 and under the ticket price is $75 per person.

PORTopera's presentation of Romo et Juliette will be Thursday and Saturday July 24th and 26th at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Tickets will be available beginning in mid-April and can be purchased online at www.porttix.com, by phone at 207-842-0800, or in person at the 20 Myrtle Street box office in Portland, between noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

About Romo et Juliette:
Romo et Juliette is renowned French composer Charles Gounod's operatic interpretation of the legendary Shakespearean tragedy and very closely follows Shakespeare's well-known play. On the heels of Gounod's success with his rendition of Faust (performed by PORTopera in 2002), Romo et Juliette opened on April 27, 1867 at the Thtre-Lyrique in Paris, where its immediate and remarkable acclaim demanded 100 consecutive nights of performances. It has long remained one of France's most prized operas.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 9:30 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Raise a Ruckus for Radio Two

April 7TH, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 12:00pm Eastern Time, the 12,500 strong members of a hastily arranged Facebook group entitled Save Classical Music at the CBC will be holding a NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION called RAISE A RUCKUS FOR RADIO TWO! in over a dozen cities across Canada.

In response to recently announced programming changes at CBC Radio Two and the planned axing of the famed CBC Vancouver Radio Orchestra, classical music fans, musicians and Radio Two listeners are planning to take to the streets in front of their local CBC installations in every province simultaneously. Demonstrations are to be held at CBC facilities in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, London, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Charlottetown and St. Johns; with possible demonstrations to be held in Regina, Kingston, ON, and Saint John, NB as well.

Disappointment with the planned changes has been swiftly building and increasingly vocal since the CBCs announcement of March 4th, where top executives including Richard Stursberg - head of CBC English services, Jennifer McGuire head of CBC radio, and Mark Steinmetz director of radio programming divulged that CBC Radio Twos 40 year tradition as a primarily classical music broadcaster would be coming to a close. Weekday classical music programming is to be cut from 12 hours daily to 5 off-peak hours leading to the cancellation of many popular shows. Though listeners realize that shows and hosts come and go, most of the quality programming is to be replaced with pop music with sprinklings of light jazz and world music. Classical music fans and musicians feel as though they have lost a trusted and beloved member of the family they feel like they are being punished for CBCs inability to stay true to its historical mandate and CBCs unwillingness to expand conventional broadcast services to include more diverse genres and programming.

Since coming into power, the current team of Programming Executives have been responsible for the fact that:

  • They have failed to transform the innovative Radio 3 into a national broadcast network, thereby necessitating, in their eyes, the gutting of Radio Twos classical programming in order to satisfy their self-perceived mandate to be all things to all people.
  • The CBC Young Composers Competition and the CBC Young Performers Competition, have been suspended for the past four years. These two important domestic competitions had been instrumental in the development of some of Canadas best musical talent including: Angela Hewitt, Ben Heppner, Jon Kimura Parker. The Canada Council provided the funding for the $10,000.00 grand prizes.
  • The CBC has, as of February, erased the classical music budget for CBC Records, precisely on the eve of their first Grammy win by Canadian violinist James Ehnes and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under Bramwell Tovey on the CBC Records label. Many artists, such as Measha Brueggergosman, launched their careers on a CBC Records label recording.
  • The commissioning budget previously devoted to commissioning new works from composers is now spread out to cover jazz, pop musicians, and some unspecified amount of contemporary music. CBC says they will spend the same amount on classical commissions but their track record is not looking good.
  • The proposed cuts for the Fall of 2008 represents further reductions in classical music content, eliminating classical music 6am to 10am and 3pm to 6pm - reducing by over half the overall classical weekday programming from 12 hours to 5 hours, and shifting all weekday classical programming to inconvenient, off-peak times of the day when no one who works or goes to school can tune in.
  • The axing of the 70 year old CBC Radio Orchestra: North America's last remaining radio orchestra and platform for countless premieres of new Canadian compositions. And then, one day after citing lack of resources as the reason for cutting the orchestra, buying an expensive full-page ad in a national newspaper to convince Canadians about how wonderful the evisceration of their national radio music network is - signed and supported by wealthy pop music recording industry executives and artists, the people who stand to gain monetarily from the demise of CBCs classical programming

All existing and long-standing weekday classical shows on Radio Two are to be cut, including:

  • Music & Company - Tom Allen's morning wake up show
  • Here's to You - Catherine Belyea's all-request show
  • Studio Sparks - due to the venerable Eric Friesen's "retirement"
  • Disc Drive - Jurgen Gothe's popular, 30 year old drive-home show
  • Sound Advice Rick Philips extraordinarily informative and unique classical recording showcase and review

These changes come on the heels of last years round of cuts to vital programs such as:

  • Danielle Charbonneau's much-loved Music for a While;
  • Larry Lake's new composer showcase Two New Hours;
  • Symphony Hall - Canada's live orchestra recording showcase;
  • The Singer and the Song - Catherine Belyea's excellent Classical vocal program;
  • Northern Lights - the overnight Classical program beloved by Night Owls everywhere;
  • The reformatting of In Performance- a primarily classical live performance show into the unfocused Canada Live - a uniformly non-classical and confusing mix of various genres

The CBC claims financial constraints drive these cuts, yet spending in other areas, and support from the commercial recording industry suggest otherwise.

Canadian classical music fans and musicians and Radio Two listeners have had enough of this concerted and unprecedented campaign against classical and art music programming and infrastructure. Though their numbers may be relatively small compared to commercial radio, Radio Two listeners are among the most engaged and loyal in the world. They feel the have been betrayed and belittled by the current management team entrenched at the nations public broadcaster.

We are expecting a large and lively turnout at CBC installations across Canada, in every province where Radio Two is heard and loved. These demonstrations will occur simultaneously at 1200hrs Eastern Time (9am in Vancouver, 1:30pm in St. Johns, etc.). We are inviting all lovers of classical music and public support for the non-commercial arts scene in this country to join with us in calling for the restoration of Radio Twos vital classical music programming and the reversal of the decision to axe the CBC Radio Orchestra. Let our voices ring out and be heard! We welcome and encourage all members of the print, radio, electronic and television media to cover this important story and join us on this important day for Canadas classical music community.

**********************************

The following is a list of local CBC facilities addresses across Canada where demonstrations are being planned, including local times and local contact information:

9am Pacific: Victoria: 1025 Pandora Avenue

Contact: Cecilia Porter - ceciliap@uvic.ca

9am Pacific: Vancouver: 775 Cambie Street

Contacts: David Taylor Gill - dtg1@sfu.ca

Jocelyn Morlock jocelynmorlock@yahoo.ca

John Oliver joliver1@earsay.com

Michael Vincent info@michaelvincent.ca

Tanya Battaglia - savecbc@hotmail.com

10am Mountain: Calgary: 1724 Westmount Blvd. NW

Contact - Andrew Nowry Andrewnowry@gmail.com

Darren Young - silentearth66@hotmail.com

10am Mountain: Edmonton: 23 Edmonton City Centre, 10062-102nd Avenue

Contacts - Scott Bursey - scottbursey@gmail.com

John Brough jsbrough@shaw.ca

Peter McGillivray radio2@petermcgillivray.com

10am Sask: Saskatoon: CBC 144 2nd Ave South

Contacts: Karen Mak hop_rocks@hotmail.com

Lorraine McGrath Khachtourians

Brendan McLean - bjm384@mail.usask.ca

10am Sask: Regina: 2440 Broad Street

11am Central: Winnipeg: 541 Portage Avenue

Contact: Jonathan Klassen - jklasse@gmail.com

12pm Eastern: Toronto: 250 Front Street West

Contacts: James Baldwin jamesmichaelbaldwin@rogers.com

Chris Foley chris@collaborativepiano.com

Kathleen Rudolph Jkrudolph5@aol.com

12pm Eastern: London, ON: 208 Piccadilly Street

Contact: Forrest Pass - fpass@uwo.ca

Durval Cesetti - durval.cesetti.cbcprotestlondon@gmail.com

12pm Eastern: Ottawa: 181 Queen Street, Ottawa - Meeting at Sparks Street entrance

Contact: James Wooten - cbcradiotwoandme@hotmail.com

Gary Hayes - cansona@rogers.com


12pm Eastern: Montreal: 1400 Rene Levesque East

Contact-Alexandra Fol - alexandra.fol@mail.mcgill.ca

Emily Gray - contra_alto@hotmail.com

Michael Shannon - michael.shannon@mail.mcgill.ca

1pm Atlantic: Saint John: 560 Main Street

1pm Atlantic: Halifax: 1601 South Park

Contact: Christian Stalley - cspstudio@yahoo.ca

Stephanie Moore - st886157@dal.ca

Janet Brush - thunderbug22003@yahoo.ca

1pm Atlantic: Charlottetown: 430 University Avenue

Contact Kate Huston - drummingdiva@hotmail.com

1:30pm Newfoundland: St John's: 25 Henry Street

Contact: Heather Joyce - livingabundance@hotmail.com

***************************************

Links and Web Resources:

Save Classical Music at the CBC

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9009203294

Save the CBC Radio Orchestra

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10103441879

Raise a Ruckus for Radio Two Facebook Event Page

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10046514724

Vancouver composer, John Oliver's Ad Campaign Site

http://standonguardforcbcradio.earsay.com/

La Scena Musicale's list of web articles:

http://www.scena.org/columns/spotlight.asp?lan=2&flag=1&id=79

Save the CBC Orchestra

http://savecbcorchestra.com/

Save the CBC

http://www.savethecbc.ca/

For more general information, please contact Peter McGillivray radio2@petermcgillivray.com

or by phone at 647-895-6757

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 2:04 PM | 1 Comments Links to this post

Le fondateur de La Scena Musicale Wah Keung Chan honor par le Collge Vanier

See the English version of this release

Le 7 avril 2008 / La Scne Musicale (LSM) est heureuse dannoncer que le fondateur et prsident de lorganisme Wah Keung Chan sera honor lors du 10e concert-bnfice Big Band annuel du Collge Vanier, qui aura lieu le lundi 14 avril 19 h 30 dans lauditorium du collge. Chaque anne, cet vnement rend hommage aux artistes musiciens qui ont laiss leur marque dans la communaut. La mission de LSM, soit la promotion de la musique classique et du jazz au Canada, allant de succs en succs, cet honneur semble particulirement mrit par Wah Keung, lui-mme un ancien de Vanier.

Cette anne, nous avons choisi Wah Keung Chan, explique Nadia Turbide, coordonnatrice du dpartement de musique de Vanier, parce que son magazine, distribu dans tout Montral, est unique. La Scena Musicale offre un calendrier mensuel exhaustif des vnements musicaux dans la ville ainsi que des entrevues et des articles de fond sur les musiciens, les chefs et les compositeurs. Cest une vritable mine dor dinformation sur la musique. Aucun autre magazine ne couvre la musique de faon aussi complte.

Wah Keung a toujours fait preuve de leadership et d'innovation : ds ses annes dtudes au Collge Vanier, il a fond le club de mathmatique et le concours de mathmatique de Vanier, pour lesquels il a reu un prix dexcellence la remise des diplmes. Je suis trs honor de recevoir cette reconnaissance, dit Wah Keung. Le mentorat que jai reu Vanier a aid former mon sens du leadership et me convaincre que mes initiatives pouvaient faire une diffrence relle. lUniversit McGill, il a reu le prix Scarlet Key pour avoir t cofondateur du Live Wire, un journal pour les tudiants en gnie lectrique, et pour son leadership sur le campus. Il a par la suite aid revigorer la Scarlet Key Society en organisant la participation annuelle de luniversit la course Terry Fox. En septembre 1996, Wah Keung a conjugu son exprience en dition, son amour de la musique classique, ses connaissances en informatique et son dvouement exceptionnel pour se lancer dans son projet le plus ambitieux, la publication dun magazine gratuit sur la musique classique, La Scena Musicale, quil continue de diriger comme diteur et rdacteur en chef. Depuis, il a largi la mission de cet organisme but non lucratif, la promotion de la musique classique, en lanant le magazine en anglais The Music Scene, La Scena Musicale Online, un site Web couronn de nombreux prix (www.scena.org) et, en septembre 2007, La SCENA, le seul magazine de Montral consacr aux arts et la culture. En 2007, Wah Keung Chan a obtenu une mention dhonneur aux Prix du magazine canadien (catgorie Arts et spectacles) pour son article Laura Nagano paru dans le numro de dcembre 2006/janvier 2007 de LSM (vol. 12, no 4).

La soire sera anime par la lgende montralaise du jazz, le pianiste Oliver Jones, et des hommages seront rendus au contretnor de renomme mondiale Daniel Taylor, au mcne montralais Noel Spinelli et la professeure de mathmatiques maintenant la retraite Carole Channer, premier mentor de Wah Keung. Parmi les artistes invits se trouveront la chanteuse Jeri Brown, qui enregistre sur ltiquette Justin Time, le Vanier Stage Band sous la direction de Jocelyn Couture et le J.L. Big Band qui compte certains des meilleurs musiciens de jazz de Montral dirig par Christopher Smith.

Les profits de la soire permettront au Collge Vanier doffrir des bourses aux meilleurs tudiants en musique de lcole; les prsentations de ces bourses aux rcipiendaires de 2008 se feront lors de lvnement. Les billets cotent 20 $. On peut se les procurer soit latelier dimprimerie du collge, soit la porte le soir du concert.

> Voir le communiqu du CGEP Vanier
> Wah Keung Chan bio at Vanier's Notable Alumni Page

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posted by Graham Lord at 1:42 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

SANCTUS: Amanda Pabyan featured in Heiligmesse (Haydn), Silete Venti (Handel), Sanctus settings w/Riverside Choral Society & Orchestra 5/17/08 8pm

The Riverside Choral Society is excited to announce our spring concert: SANCTUS, featuring one of Americas most distinguished, new lyric-coloratura sopranos AMANDA PABYAN, described by the New York Times as a brilliant coloratura and technically agile, clarion toned and incisive.

Pabyan will be featured in two infrequently performed choral gems: FJ Haydns Heiligmesse and Handels operatic motet, Silete Venti.

This will be an concert of masterworks from the classical to the contemporary, including Franz Joseph Haydn, George Frideric Handel, Felix Mendelssohn, Heitor Villa-Lobos, William Albright, and Jan Sandstrm, in Latin, Italian, and German. Everyone is invited to experience the exultation and mystery of these settings of the Mass, and Sanctus in particular. This is a rare opportunity to hear one of New York Citys leading symphonic choirs present a gorgeous and historic performance of Haydns gem, the Heiligmesse, Handels ravishing Sileti Venti, and compare settings of the Sanctus spanning millennia and continents, including Gregorian Chant, Baroque, German Romanticism, 20th Century Latin romance and neo-mysticism. Featuring acclaimed soprano Amanda Pabyan, RCSs SANCTUS will be divinely delightful. We cant wait to sing for you and see you there!

Riverside Choral Society, now in its 27th year, has gained a reputation as one of New York Citys premier choruses. In addition to its regular concert season under the baton of Dr. Patrick Gardner, RCS is frequently chosen as guest ensemble. Most recently Dr. Gardner prepared the chorus to join the Mannes Orchestra in Stravinskys Symphony of Psalms at Carnegie Hall November 2007. In 2005 and 2006 RCS appeared with Kirov Opera Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonic under the baton of Valery Gergiev for six concerts at Lincoln Center and NJPAC, including performances of Mahlers Second Symphony and Shostakovichs Symphonies 2, 3, and 13. In recent years RCS has also appeared regularly at Lincoln Centers Mostly Mozart Festival, and has been featured in collaborations with the Mark Morris Dance Company and at special events at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. For more information, please visit www.RiversideChoral.org.

Please post the concert announcement information and posters (below) to bulletin boards, newsletters, newspapers, departmental announcements, websites, event listings, classrooms, and anywhere they might be seen or searched, and forward this email to those who will find it of interest and can make such posts. Interest categories/tags: Settings of the Mass and Sanctus from the Baroque to the present, Catholic & Christian liturgy, Latin, choral music, classical music, religion, upcoming concerts and events.

Tickets can be purchased at the door, although advance ticket orders are strongly encouraged.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

ORDERING TICKETS

Advance tickets can be ordered online here.

Night of the Performance: Cash (check, or money order made out to Riverside Choral Society) are accepted at the concert box office at the entrance to Holy Trinity Church (213 West 82nd Street) between 7-8pm.

QUESTIONS, GROUPS and SPECIAL REQUESTS: phone 347 404 5544 and email RiverSideChoralSociety@gmail.com

PS: Singing with the RCS is a delight and an excellent education in choral singing, vocal technique, and classical repertoire. Those interested in singing with us, please explore our website where you can learn more about RCS, our repertoire (symphonic choral classics with an emphasis on liturgical), rehearsal schedule (Tuesdays 7-9:30pm, W100th St come sit in), and schedule an audition with our director, Dr. Patrick Gardner. While the site mentions main auditions in August, they can happen at any time.

SANCTUS

Franz Josef Haydn - Heiligmesse

George Frideric Handel - Silete Venti

Amanda Pabyan, soprano

William Albright - Sanctus from the Chichester Mass

Felix Mendelssohn - Heilig

Jan Sandstrm - Sanctus

Heitor Villa-Lobos - Sanctus and Benedictus from Missa So Sebastio

Amanda Pabyan, soprano

Kirsten Solleck, alto

Kurt Alakulppi, tenor

Brian McIntosh, bass-baritone

Patrick Gardner, Conducting

with Chamber Orchestra

Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 8:00 PM

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church

213 W. 82nd Street

(between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue)

Tickets: $35, $25 ($10 for students with ID)

Ticket Orders: RiversideChoralSociety@gmail.com

Box Office Open 7-8pm prior to concert

www.RiversideChoral.org

Printable PDFs:

HeiligemessLandscape2.gif http://www.riversidechoral.org/images/SANCTUSPosterBlack.pdf

cid:image005.jpg@01C8953F.895D4AD0 http://www.riversidechoral.org/images/SANCTUSPosterWhite.pdf

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 12:37 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Koffler Centre of the Arts Gala - Superstar line-up announced

For Immediate Release: April 8, 2008 * Please include in listings/announcements

The Israel Ballet To Present A World Premiere At
KOFFLER CENTRE OF THE ARTS GALA
STARS OF THE 21st CENTURY
Sunday, May 4, 2008 * Toronto Centre for the Arts

International dance superstars from around the world - including Germany, Israel, Lithuania, Russia, Spain, and Vienna and principals from the National Ballet of Canada - will grace the stage together on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts for the 7th annual Stars of the 21st Century. Proceeds from the gala support the many programs of the Koffler Centre of the Arts.

Invited to Toronto for Israel @ 60, The Israel Ballet will present a world premiere at the Koffler Gala, from Berta Yampolsky artistic director and choreographer, featuring Nina Gershman and Alexander Utkin. Also appearing for the first time at Stars of the 21st Century, Compaa Nacional de Danza de Espaa from Madrid, will present two exciting works from renowned choreographer and artistic director, Nacho Duato, featuring Ana Mara Lpez and Francisco Lorenzo.

Miki Hamanaka, Lithuania National Opera Ballet Theatre and Daniil Simkin, Vienna State Opera Ballet, will come together in Toronto to perform Don Quixote Grand Pas De Deux, which they first performed in Lithuania last year. Simkin made his principal debut in Don Quixote only last year and this October he will join the American Ballet Theatre in New York.

Yevgenia Obraztsova of the Kirov Ballet (Mariinsky Theatre) and Artyom Pykhachov from Mikhailovsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, will perform Le Corsaire Pas de Deux and the Berlin State Opera Ballet's Ronald Savkovic and Shoko Nakamura will perform Esmeralda Pas de Deux. The gala will also feature three artists from the National Ballet of Canada: Heather Ogden and Nehemiah Kish will perform Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and Zdenek Konvalina will perform excerpts from Maurice Bjart's Seven Greek Dances.

The Koffler Centre of the Arts has a history of being an innovative and inclusive centre for the creation and presentation of art and culture. Established in 1977, to enrich the cultural life of Toronto through arts education and exhibitions, the Koffler Centre has grown to reach thousands of people a year through a rich mix of classes in dance, music, and visual arts; public programs such as concerts with the Koffler Chamber Orchestra, the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Awards and the Jewish Book Fair, Rikkudiya Israeli Dance Festival; and cutting-edge, critically-acclaimed exhibitions at the Koffler Gallery.

Executive Director Lori Starr, who joined the Koffler Centre in 2006 from the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, will spearhead the creation of a new, sophisticated, multi-purpose 40,000 square foot Koffler Centre of the Arts. This signature building on the new Bathurst Street Sherman Campus is where people and art will come together to generate a true sense of community.
KOFFLER CENTRE OF THE ARTS GALA
STARS OF THE 21st CENTURY
A Solomon Tencer Production * Nadia Veselova-Tencer Artistic Director
Sunday May 4th, 2008, 8pm
The Toronto Centre For The Arts, 5040 Yonge Street, Toronto
Tickets range from $60-$165 and are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling 416-872-1111
For Gala Patron Tickets (includes show, VIP reception, exclusive dinner) or to be a Gala Sponsor,
contact Tobi Liederman at 416.636.1880 X271 or events@kofflerarts.org
For more information visit www.kofflercentre.com

Media Contact:
Carrie Sager
FLIP Publicity & Promotions Inc.
416.533.7710 X224 fax 416.533.7797
carrie@flip-publicity.com
http://www.flip-publicity.com

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 11:51 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

La Scena Musicale Founder Wah Keung Chan to be Honoured by Vanier College

Voir la version franaise de ce communiqu

April 7, 2008 / La Scne Musicale (LSM) is pleased to announce that the organizations founder and president Wah Keung Chan will be honoured at Vanier Colleges 10th Annual Big Band Benefit Concert, which will take place on Monday, April 14 at 7:30 PM in the schools auditorium. Every year, this event pays tribute to musical artists who have made a lasting impact on the community at large. As LSMs mission of promoting classical music and jazz throughout Canada continues to succeed, this honour seems particularly fitting for Wah Keung, who is himself a Vanier alumnus.

Vanier Music Department coordinator Nadia Turbide explains: "This year we chose Wah Keung Chan, because his magazine which is distributed all over Montreal, is a one-of-a-kind monthly listing of musical events along interviews and articles on musicians, conductors and composers in Montreal. La Scena Musicale is a gold mine of information on musical events; no other local magazine covers music in such a comprehensive way."

Wah Keung has a history of leadership and innovation that dates back to his days at Vanier, where he founded the Vanier Math Club and the Vanier Math Competition, for which he received a Vanier Student Life Award upon graduation. I am very honoured and touched to receive this recognition, says Wah Keung. The mentorship I received at Vanier helped shape my sense of leadership and the idea that I could make a real difference through my initiatives. At McGill University, he received the Scarlet Key Award for co-founding The Live Wire, a news/journal for electrical engineering students, and for his leadership on campus. He subsequently helped reinvigorate the Scarlet Key Society by starting the universitys regular participation in the Terry Fox Run. In September 1996, Wah Keung brought his publishing experience, love of classical music, knowledge of computers and sense of volunteerism to his most ambitious project, the publication of a free classical music magazine, La Scena Musicale, which he continues to run as publisher and editor-in-chief. Since then, he has expanded the non-profit charitys mission of promoting classical music by launching the all-English The Music Scene, La Scena Musicale Online, an award-winning website which can be found at www.scena.org, and in September 2007, La SCENA, Montreals only arts and culture magazine. Recently, Wah Keung was the recipient of an Honourable Mention at the 2006 National Magazine Awards (Arts and Entertainment Category) for his critical profile The Nagano Mystique, published in the December 2006/January 2007 issue of LSM (Vol. 12.4).

The evenings festivities will be hosted by Montreal jazz piano legend Oliver Jones, while tributes will be given by internationally renowned countertenor Daniel Taylor, local philanthropist Noel Spinelli, and retired Vanier math professor Carole Channer, Wah Keung first mentor. Featured performers include Justin Time recording artist Jeri Brown, the Vanier Stage Band under the direction of Jocelyn Couture and the J.L. Big Band, led by Christopher Smith, which is comprised of some of Montreals finest jazz musicians.

Proceeds from the evenings concert allow Vanier College to give bursaries to outstanding music students at the school; presentations of these scholarships to current Vanier students will be part of the event. Tickets for the event are $20 and can be purchased either at the colleges print shop or at the door on the evening of the concert.

> See the Vanier College press release
> Wah Keung Chan bio at Vanier's Notable Alumni Page

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posted by Graham Lord at 10:17 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Friday, April 4, 2008

Le concert du Big Band avec Oliver Jones au Cgep Vanier sera ddi Wah Keung Chan, fondateur de La Scena Musicale

[English Version]

Le 10 avril 2008
Le concert du Big Band avec Oliver Jones au Cgep Vanier sera ddi Wah Keung Chan, fondateur de La Scena Musicale

Cette anne au Cgep Vanier, la 10e dition du concert annuel du Big Band sera ddi Wah Keung Chan, un ancien du Cgep Vanier et l'diteur-fondateur de La Scena Musicale une revue mensuelle qui est maintenant synonyme d'tre l'afft de ce qui se passe dans le monde de la musique Montral.

Oliver Jones, lgendaire pianiste de Jazz, sera le matre de crmonie et l'incomparable chanteuse scat, Jeri Brown, sera l'artiste invite. La premire partie de la soire mettra en vedette le Vanier Stage Band compos de 19 musiciens et la chanteuse Shaday Lavalle, dirig par Jocelyn Couture. En deuxime partie, Jeri Brown montera sur la scne accompagne du chef d'orchestre Christopher Smith et le J.L. Big Band, un ensemble compos des meilleurs musiciens jazz de Montral.

Chaque anne, le Big Band Benefit Concert, honore une personne qui a contribu de faon importante la Musique. "Cette anne nous avons choisi Wah Keung Chan, explique le docteur Nadia Turbide, coordonnatrice du dpartement de Musique Vanier, parce que sa revue, distribue partout Montral, est unique en ce qu'elle offre un calendrier mensuel exhaustif des vnements musicaux dans la ville, ainsi que des interviews et des articles sur des musiciens, des chef d'orchestre et des compositeurs Montral. La Scena Musicale est une vritable mine d'or quant l'information sur la musique; nulle autre revue touche la musique d'une faon aussi complte."

Les revenus du Concert bnfice du Big Band permettent de crer des bourses d'tude pour le dpartement de musique Vanier. L'affiche du concert pour cette anne a t dessine par Rebecca De Comarmond, une tudiante de Joan Fee Taylor en Microdition et hypermdia Vanier. L'affiche parat dans La Scena Musicale des mois de mars et avril.

Le concert commence 19h30, lundi le 14 avril, dans l'auditorium Vanier (Salle A 150). Les billets de 20$ sont en vente l'imprimerie du collge et l'entre le soir du concert. Ouvert au public. Cgep Vanier, 821, avenue Sainte-Croix, Ville Saint Laurent. Mtro Cte Vertu.

Renseignements: (514) 744-7500 http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/events/2008/big-band-concert/

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Pour des renseignements supplmentaires:
Marguerite Corriveau, Agente de Communication
Collge Vanier
Tlphone: (514) 744-7500, poste 7596,
Courriel: marguerite.corriveau@vaniercollege.qc.ca

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 3:08 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

American Public Media and The San Francisco Symphony's The MTT Files Wins Peabody Award

Contact: Brad Robideau

(651) 290-1113

brobideau@americanpublicmedia.org

www.americanpublicmedia.org


American Public Media and The San Francisco Symphonys The MTT Files Wins Peabody Award


(St. Paul, Minn.) April 4, 2008The MTT FilesѢ, a public radio series produced by American Public MediaѢ and the San Francisco Symphony and hosted by the renowned San Francisco Symphony music director Michael Tilson Thomas, has won a 2007 Peabody Award.


Michael Tilson Thomas, also known as MTT, is acclaimed for his work as a conductor, composer and as one of the great communicators about music in the world today. In The MTT Files, Tilson Thomas metaphorically pulls out some of his "files" files full of ideas about music and art, and reminiscences of the legendary artists he has known throughout his careerto create eight very original and personal one-hour radio programs. The series includes an episode featuring Tilson Thomas in conversation with James Brown, in one of the soul singers final interviews before his death.


Announcing the Peabody Award, Horace Newcomb, Director of the Peabody Awards, said, In these beautifully crafted radio pieces, conductor Michael Tilson Thomas examines a series of his personal files that range over an expansive world of music from Igor Stravinsky to James Brown. The subjects and topics in Tilson Thomass explorations broaden our knowledge as they delight our brains and our imaginations.


The Peabody Awards are the oldest honor in broadcasting and widely considered electronic medias most coveted award. The Peabody Awards recognize excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, Webcasters, producing organizations and individuals. For more information, visit www.peabody.uga.edu.


The Peabody Awards will be presented June 16, 2008, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Brian Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly News, will host the ceremony.


The MTT Files was produced and mixed by Tom Voegeli of American Public Media. Voegeli also wrote, produced and mixed American Mavericks, a public radio series also produced in association with the San Francisco Symphony and hosted by Tilson Thomas. American Mavericks won a Peabody Award in 2004. Voegeli is also the executive producer of From the Top, a weekly radio showcase of America's top young classical musicians, hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher ORiley.


The MTT Files are supported by a grant from Koret Foundation Funds and by members of Minnesota Public Radio. The MTT Files are part of Keeping Score, made possible with lead funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and with generous support from The James Irvine Foundation, Marcia and John Goldman, Nan Tucker McEvoy, William and Gretchen Kimball Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others.


The MTT Files are on the Web at www.mttfiles.org.


In November 2006, the San Francisco Symphony launched Keeping Score, a national television series aimed at making classical music more accessible to people of all ages and musical backgrounds. The Keeping Score project features PBS telecasts, a national radio series, interactive websites, and a K-12 education program. For additional information, visit www.sfsymphony.org and www.keepingscore.org.


American Public Media has the largest broadcast audience reach of any classical music radio producer in the United States. Through global partnerships with leading music organizations, the European Broadcasting Union, the BBC, orchestras, festivals, vocal ensembles, and artists, American Public Medias classical music service delivers performances and insight from around the world to its listeners. American Public Medias classical music portfolio includes nationally renowned programs Performance Today, SymphonyCast, Pipedreams, and Saint Paul Sunday.


American Public Media is the largest owner and operator of public radio stations, also producing top programs reaching more than 15 million listeners weekly. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services for the American Public Media national network can be obtained at www.americanpublicmedia.org.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 12:46 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Vanier College Big Band Benefit Concert with Oliver Jones Will honour Wah Keung Chan, founder of La Scena Musicale

[Version franais]

April 3, 2008

This year when Vanier College strikes up the first note of its 10th Anniversary Big Band Benefit Concert, an annual event to raise funds for music scholarships, it will be in honour of Vanier graduate, Wah Keung Chan founding editor of La Scena Musicale a magazine that has become synonymous with knowing what's happening in the world of music in Montreal.

Again this year, Jazz legend Oliver Jones will host the event which will feature the great scat singer Jeri Brown as guest artist. The first part of the evening will present the award-winning Vanier Stage Band made up of 19 young instrumentalists and singer Shaday Lavall under the direction of Jocelyn Couture. In part two, Jeri Brown will take the spotlight along with conductor Christopher Smith and the J.L. Big Band, an ensemble of some of the best jazz musicians in Montreal.

Every year the Big Band Benefit Concert is dedicated to someone who has made an important contribution to music. According to Dr Nadia Turbide, Coordinator of the Music Department at Vanier, "This year we chose Wah Keung Chan, because his magazine which is distributed all over Montreal, is a one-of-a-kind monthly listing of musical events along with interviews and articles on musicians, conductors, and composers in Montreal. La Scena Musicale is a goldmine of information on musical events; no other local magazine covers music is such a comprehensive way."

The stunning concert poster which appears in the March and April issues of La Scena Musicale, was designed by Rebecca De Comarmond, a student of Joan Fee Taylor in the Vanier Micropublishing and Hypermedia program.

Concert time is 7:30pm, Monday April 14th in the Vanier Auditorium (Room A150). Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Vanier College Print shop or at the door on the night of the concert. Open to the public. Vanier College, 821 Sainte-Croix, Ville Saint Laurent, Metro Cte-Vertu.
For information: 514 744-7500. http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/events/2008/big-band-concert/

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For information please contact:
Marguerite Corriveau, Vanier Communications Officer
Telephone: (514) 744-7500, ext. 7596
Email: marguerite.corriveau@vaniercollege.qc.ca

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 12:16 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Raise a Ruckus for Radio Two!

A National Day of Action to save Radio 2 and the CBC Orchestra

Friday, April 11, 2008
9:00am - 1:30pm (see specific times for each city below)

St. John's, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary,
Vancouver, and more!


After the wonderful success of the recent protest at CBC Vancouver to
protest the demise of the CBC Radio Orchestra, a protest in Montreal is
being organized by musicians and Radio Two fans in solidarity this Friday.
In order to give folks in other cities enough time to organize, OUR NATIONAL
DAY OF ACTION DEMONSTRATION WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT FRIDAY, APRIL 11th (notethe change, folks)

Can we expand this protest to every CBC installation across the country. Do
you dare to take a portion of your lunch hour to travel to the CBC centre in
YOUR community to call for an end to the cutting of classical music
programming and infrastructure? Can we make it a rolling protest, that hits
every time zone, one after the other (half an hour later in Newfoundland)?


Here are the addresses and times:

9am PST: Victoria: 1025 Pandora Avenue

9am PST: Vancouver: 775 Cambie Street

10am MST: Calgary: 1724 Westmount Blvd. NW
Contact - Andrew NowryAndrewnowry@gmail.com

10am MST: Edmonton: 23 Edmonton City Centre, 10062-102nd Avenue
Contact - Scott Bursey

11am CST: Regina: 2440 Broad Street

11am CST: Winnipeg: 541 Portage Avenue

11am CST: Thunder Bay: 213 East Miles Street

12pm EST: Toronto: 250 Front Street West
Contact Peter McGillivrayradio2@petermcgillivray.com(though I willprobably be in Edmonton - could somebody else take over Toronto?)

12pm EST: Sudbury: 15 MacKenzie Street

12pm EST: Windsor:825 Riverside Drive West

12pm EST: Ottawa: 181 Queen Street, Ottawa
Meet at Sparks Street entrance
Contact:

12pm EST: Montreal: 1400 Rene Levesque East
Contact-Alexandra Fol
alexandra.fol@mail.mcgill.ca

1pm AST: Fredericton: 1160 Regent Street

1pm AST: Saint John: 560 Main Street

1pm AST: Moncton: 250 University Avenue

1pm AST: Halifax: 1601 South Park

1pm AST: Charlottetown: 430 University Avenue
Contact Kate Hustondrummingdiva@hotmail.com

1:30pm NST: St John's: 25 Henry Street

Make sure to also Copy and past the text of this event into an email and
forward it to as many people as you can. Let's make sure we get this
movement off Facebook and into the general public as well. over 100 people
showed up in Vancouver. If we can get even 20 to show up at each CBC station
we will have made a huge statement.

For inspiration check out the following group sites:
Save Classical Music at the CBC
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9009203294
Save the CBC Radio Orchestra
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10103441879

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posted by Michael Vincent at 5:49 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Les chefs d'uvre de La Scala de Milan prsentes dans les salles de cinma du Qubec en haute dfinition

communiqu
Pour diffusion immdiate

LES CHEFS D'UVRE DE LA SCALA DE MILAN
PRSENTS DANS LES SALLES DE CINMA DU QUBEC
EN HAUTE DFINITION


Montral, 3 avril 2008 - Les productions de La Scala de Milan sont enfin offertes au public qubcois qui aura la possibilit de dcouvrir la magie de ce haut-lieu de la culture musicale mondiale dans une srie de prsentations en Haute Dfinition dans quatre salles de cinma du Qubec.

Pour dbuter la saison, les cinphiles pourront voir la production de LA TRAVIATA de Giuseppe Verdi. Les critiques ont vant les performances et la maitrise du rle d'Angela Gheorghiu interprtant le rle de Violetta, entoure d'une distribution de renomme internationale incluant Ramn Vargas et Roberto Frontali. L'orchestre tait dirig par Lorin Maazel et la ralisation de LA TRAVIATA tait confie Liliana Cavani, la conception Dante Ferretti et les chorgraphies Micha van Hoecke.

Les cinmas Carrefour de Joliette, Triomphe de Lachenaie, Beaubien de Montral et Pine de Sainte-Adle sont fiers de prsenter en Haute Dfinition et en son Dolby 5.1 LA TRAVIATA dimanche 20 avril 13h00 et en reprise mercredi 30 avril 13h00. Le prix d'admission sera de 19,95 $ pour l'admission gnrale et 15,95 $ pour les tudiants (moins de 17 ans).

Six autres productions seront ensuite prsentes en provenance de La Scala de Milan, du Maggio Musicale de Florence et du Teatro la Fenice de Venise. Il s'agit de AIDA (Giuseppe Verdi), ralis par Franco Zeffirelli et dirig par Riccardo Chailly; MARIA STUARDA (Gaetano Donizetti) ralis par Pier Luigi Pizzi; TRISTAN UND ISOLDE (Richard Wagner) dirig par Daniel Barenboim et realis par Patrice Chreau; IL TRITTICO (Giacomo Puccini) ralis par Luca Ronconi avec en vedette Juan Pons et Leo Nucci; LA FORZA DEL DESTINO (Giuseppe Verdi) dirig par Zubin Mehta, ralis par Nicolas Joel, avec en vedette Marcello Giordani; et enfin LA RONDINE (Giacomo Puccini), dirig par Carlo Rizzi et ralis par Graham Vick.

La prsentation aux tats-Unis, au Royaume Uni, au Brsil et en Norvge et maintenant au Qubec de ces uvres sur grand cran par des serveurs numriques est rendue possible grce la collaboration d'Emerging Pictures.

Une des places musicales les plus prestigieuses au monde, La Scala de Milan fut construite en 1778 aprs la destruction par le feu de l'ancien Thtre ducal. Marie-Thrse d'Autriche le fit riger l o s'levait jadis l'glise Santa Maria della Scala, qui donna son nom au nouvel opra. Entirement dtruite durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, la Scala fut immdiatement reconstruite, et le 11 mai 1946, Arturo Toscanini dirigeait le concert de rouverture. De 2002 2004, la Scala ferme ses portes pour une rnovation totale de la cage de scne et l'adjonction d'un nouvel difice qui est une vraie prouesse architecturale. Stphane Lissner est le surintendant et directeur artistique de la Scala depuis la saison 2005/2006. Il a succd Riccardo Muti, qui avait assur la direction musicale de l'Opra de Milan pendant prs de vingt ans.

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Pour information :
514 721-6060
Mario Fortin
Directeur gnral
CINMA BEAUBIEN


La Traviata (Giuseppe Verdi)
Ralis par Liliana Cavani
En italien avec sous-titres en franais
Dure approximative : 2h20
Dimanche 20 avril 13h00, reprise mercredi 30 avril 13h00

Aida (Giuseppe Verdi)
Ralisation et conception scnique par Franco Zeffirelli
En italien avec sous-titres en franais
Dure approximative : 2h37 plus une intermission
Dimanche 4 mai 13h00, reprise mercredi 14 mai 13h00

Maria Stuarda (Gaetano Donizetti)
Ralisation, conception scnique et costumes par Pier Luigi Pizzi
En italien avec sous-titres en franais
Dure approximative : 2h45
Dimanche 1er juin 13h00, reprise mercredi 11 juin 13h00

Tristan und Isolde (Richard Wagner)
Realis par Patrice Chreau
En allemand avec sous-titres en franais
Dure approximative: 4h20 plus deux intermissions
Dimanche 21 septembre 13h00, reprise mercredi 1er octobre 13h00

Il Trittico (Giacomo Puccini)
Ralis par by Luca Ronconi
En italien avec sous-titres en franais
Dure approximative : 3h
Dimanche 12 octobre 13h00, reprise mercredi 22 octobre 13h00

La Forza del Destino (Giuseppe Verdi)
Par le Teatro del Maggio Musicale, Florence
Ralis par Nicolas Jol
En italien avec sous-titres en franais
Dure approximative : 2h40
Dimanche 2 novembre 13h00, reprise mercredi 12 novembre 13h00

La Rondine (Giacomo Puccini)
Par le Teatro La Fenice, Venice
Ralis par Graham Vick
En italien avec sous-titres en franais
Dure approximative :1h50
Dimanche 23 novembre 13h00, reprise mercredi 3 dcembre 13h00

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 3:37 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

SPRING IN VIENNA: Laudate Singers, May 2

For Immediate Release April 3, 2008

LAUDATE SINGERS present

SPRING IN VIENNA

Friday May 2, 2008 8:00 pm

Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre

2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver

Tickets ($25/$20/FREE for 17 years & under): 604-990-7810

www.laudatesingers.com

The North Shores premier chamber choir concludes its subscription season with the musical equivalent of a glass of fine champagne: an evening of sparkling, graceful melodies from 19th-century Viennese opera. The May 2 concert held at Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre will feature Laudate Singers, artistic director Lars Kaario and pianists Gaye Alcott and Bernard Duerksen in a programme that includes such beloved favourites as Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes, choruses and solos from Lehars The Merry Widow and Strauss Die Fledermaus. Audiences are invited to join the choir for refreshments wine, coffee and authentic Viennese pastries during intermission.

Music to make your ears sing and your spirit dance!

www.laudatesingers.com

Media Contact: Melanie Thompson, 604-224-6201 or melaniethompson@shaw.ca

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 2:19 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

TSO - New Creations Festival almost SOLD OUT

For Immediate Release: April 3, 2008 o Please include in your listings/announcements

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra's
NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL
SOLD OUT... ALMOST!

If you were planning to attend the spectacular events of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL, complete with acrobats, intermission chats with composers, and post-concert parties with live music, you are almost too late! Oiseaux exotiques on Wednesday, April 9, has VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY and the following concert, Keyboard Innovation, on Saturday, April 12, is SOLD OUT!

With one week to go before the Festival begins, limited tickets are also still available for the final two concerts on April 16 and 17. The Festival finale will include Messiaen's Turangalla Symphony and Jacques Htu's Concerto for Organ and Orchestra, featuring Olivier Latry, organist from the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Don't hesitate, or you will have to wait for next year's festival!

Maestro Oundjian and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra established the NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL in 2005, soon after the conductor's arrival at the helm of his hometown orchestra. The 4th Annual NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL celebrates the centennial of Olivier Messiaen (1908-92) by presenting several of the vibrant French composer's works alongside world and Canadian premires by living composers who continue to be inspired by Messiaen's work.

NEW CREATIONS FESTIVAL
April 9 - 17, 2008

Wednesday, April 9 at 8 pm, Oiseaux exotiques
VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY

Saturday, April 12 at 8 pm, Keyboard Innovation
SOLD OUT

Wednesday, April 16 at 8 pm
Thursday, April 17 at 8 pm
Turangalla Symphony
Peter Oundjian, conductor
Marc-Andr Hamelin, piano
Olivier Latry, organ
Jean Laurendeau, ondes martenot
Jacques Htu: Concerto for Organ and Orchestra
Messiaen: Turangalla Symphony

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW
All concerts take place at Roy Thomson Hall
60 Simcoe Street, Toronto (Canada)
Tickets range from $123-$36
For tickets call the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Ticket Line
at the Roy Thomson Hall box office 416.593.4828
or visit http://www.tso.ca/
www.newcreationsfestival.com

Media Contact: FLIP PUBLICITY, Barbora Krsek X236 barbora@flip-publicity.com
720 Bathurst Street, #403 TOR M5S 2R4 www.flip-publicity.com

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 10:14 AM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Auditions for the Montreal Young Artists Opera Theatre Academy

STUDENTS 30 and UNDER MUST APPLY BY E-MAIL BEFORE APRIL 9th, 2008


2008 FACULTY INCLUDES:

DONNA BROWN
MARY MORRISON
DANIEL TAYLOR
JULIAN WACHNER


The Young Artists Opera Theatre Academy is a project of the Theatre of Early Music Young Artist Foundation in cooperation with the Festival des Arts Saint Sauveur. This first edition, the 2008 program will offer emerging singers a unique opportunity in Quebec to concentrate on interpretive arts in a consistent and positive performance/learning environment. Students will be instructed on new ideas and approaches that are designed to meet individual interests, the importance of emotional connection to the works, style and interpretation, text, body alignment, breath and movement.

The Academy invites young musicians who are at the threshold and early stages of their careers an opportunity to study with an internationally acclaimed Faculty sought-after in the area of their expertise. Led by Daniel Taylor, Artistic Director, our mission is to provide instruction at the highest level.

This first 2008 Academy runs July 27-August 6, offering a series of intimate and focused workshops, individual lessons, Master Classes, coachings, yoga sessions and performance opportunities.

The Young Artists Academy program takes place in Montreal with featured performances at the Festival des Arts Saint Sauveur, one of the most important Dance and Music Festivals in Canada. Artists will also travel for a performance at the largest chamber music festival in the world, the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival.

TO BOOK AN AUDITION TIME, WRITE TO TEMADMIN@HOTMAIL.COM or CALL 514 982 2535

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 7:44 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post

Benoit Labont a remis une contribution de 25 000$ l'Orchestre Mtropolitain du Grand Montral

MONTREAL, le 2 avril /CNW Telbec/ - Benoit Labont, Maire de l'arrondissement de Ville-Marie, a remis un chque de 25 000$ l'Orchestre Mtropolitain du Grand Montral, en compagnie de Yannick Nzet-Sguin, directeur artistique et chef principal de l'Orchestre.

"L'arrondissement de Ville-Marie est heureux de contribuer au dveloppement du milieu professionnel montralais de la scne musicale
classique", a dclar M. Labont.

La contribution de l'arrondissement permettra l'Orchestre d'obtenir une subvention quivalente de la part de Patrimoine canadien. En change, l'Orchestre remet gratuitement l'arrondissement 500 billets pour chacun des deux concerts de fin de saison, qui auront lieu les 14 avril et 12 mai prochain.

"Des jeunes de l'arrondissement de Ville-Marie qui, d'ordre gnral, n'ont pas accs aux prestations de l'Orchestre, auront la chance d'assister un concert de grande qualit", a rajout M. Labont. En rendant accessible les arts la population montralaise, l'arrondissement favorise non seulement le dveloppement culturel de la mtropole, mais encourage galement la cration de nouvelles clientles.

Renseignements: Jean-Franois Sonier, Charg de communication,
Arrondissement de Ville-Marie, (514) 872-0970

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Hold the dates: The Odd Couple at The Segal Centre for Performing Arts, May 4-25


The Odd Couple

By Neil Simon

Directed by Diana Leblanc

The snow is almost gone- it's time to start laughing with Neil Simon's classic comedy.


Mark these dates in your spring calendar

Sunday, May 4 Sunday, May 25, 2008

88.5 CBC Radio One presents the Sunday-@-the-Segal lecture for The Odd Couple on Sunday, May 4, 11 a.m. With Andy Nulman.


The Odd Couple

The Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre

At The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts at the Saidye

5170 Cote St. Catherine Rd.

Monday to Thursday at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday at 9:00 p.m.

Sunday at 7:00 p.m.

Matines: Wednesdays, 1:00pm and Sundays, 2:00 pm

Reservations: (514) 739-7944

-30-

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ Announce Scholarship Recipients

PORTLAND, Maine The Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, administrators of the Kotzschmar Memorial Trust Scholarship Fund, recently named this year's scholarship recipients. The four scholarships will be officially awarded at the Legacy of Hermann Kotzschmar concert on Tuesday, April 15th, 7:30 p.m. at Merrill Auditorium.

Any student of the organ, orchestral instruments or voice who is a resident of greater Portland, including Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Gorham and Cumberland, and who is between the ages of 10-18 (grades 4-12) or 19-25 is eligible for the scholarship. There are four recipients for 2008, receiving $100-$1,000 each, for additional music education. In addition, there are two Honorable Mentions:

  • Nell Britton, a sophomore at Cape Elizabeth High School, received a scholarship. She has studied piano for 6 years and is a student of Robert Glover.
  • Henry Kramer is a graduate of Cape Elizabeth High School (class of '05) and is currently a third year student at The Juilliard School in New York City. Henry has studied piano for 8 years and was awarded a scholarship. He currently studies with Julian Martin.
  • Jiyeon Kim is a Junior at Deering High School is Portland. Jiyeon received a scholarship. She has studied piano for 6 years and currently studies under Barbara Payson.
  • Benjamin Jones is a ninth grade student at Yarmouth High School. Ben was awarded a scholarship. He has studied violin for 8 years and is taught by Ronald Lantz.
  • Aaron Dobieski received an Honorable Mention. Aaron is a 5th-grader at Cape Elizabeth Middle School. He studies piano with Elizabeth Manduca and has been playing for 5 years.
  • Evan Moore also received an Honorable Mention. He is a 6th-grader at Lincoln Middle School. His piano teacher is Liz Manduca. Evan has been studying piano for 4 years.

The Kotzschmar Memorial Trust Scholarship was established in 1911 by Mrs. Herman Kotzschmar to "aid in the musical education of such pupil or pupils, of marked ability." FOKO administers the auditions and presents the awards.

Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ was founded in 1981 as a result of the city of Portland's need to withdraw funding for the organ due to financial limitations. Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Kotzschmar, FOKO's responsibilities include raising funds, presenting concerts and engaging the services of a Municipal Organist.

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posted by Wah Keung Chan at 1:00 PM | 0 Comments Links to this post